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33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WraSTM.N.Y.  USSO 

(716)  •72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/iCMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Inttitut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


;\ 


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> 


Technical  und  Bibliographic  Notea/Notaa  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  baiow. 


0 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I      I    Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminated/ 
CoMverture  restaurte  et/ou  pellicula 


□   Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  mapa/  -     ^ , 

Cartes  gtographiquas  en  couieur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
RailA  avac  d'autras  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  iaavaa  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaisdent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pagea  n'ont 
pas  4t4  filmAes. 

Addltionel  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplAmantnires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  4t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indlquto  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couieur 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAas 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagea  rastaurAas  et/ou  pelllcuites 


Q   Pagea  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dtcoiortes,  tachetAes  Od  piqu< 


Pages 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachtes 


piquAea 


r^   Showthrough/ 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prin 

Quality  inAgale  de  I'lmpression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matAriai  supplAmentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  diaponibia 


r~~|   Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I     I   Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieliement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M4  film^es  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


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This  item  Is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  film*  au  taux  da  riduction  indiqu*  ci-daasous. 

10X  14X  ItX  22X 


26X 


aox 


X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


MX 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  hero  hat  been  reproduced  thank* 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exempiaire  filmi  f ut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gtnArositA  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  image*  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
po**ible  coneidering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specification*. 


Le*  Image*  *uivante*  ont  At6  reproduite*  avec  le 
plu*  grand  *oin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exempiaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  le*  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  In  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  fiim6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  solt  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  comment  ant  par  la 
premiire  page  qu'  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  *^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniire  Image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  ie  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbcle  ▼  signifie  "FIN".  . 


IMaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  In  he  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fllmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6. 11  est  f  ilm*  A  partir 
de  i'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bes,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'Images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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TBB   PRorXR    MODE   OF    COMDUGTINO   MISSIONS  TO  THE    BEATHSIT. 


SERMON 


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AMOnO    THK 


INDIANS  AND  OTHERS  IN  NORTH  AMERICA, 


NOVEMBER  6,  ld29. 


BY  BENJAMIN  B.  WISNER, 

PASTOR  OF   THE   OLD   SOUTH   CBUROB   IN   BOSTON. 


BOSTON  :   PUTNAM  &  HUNT. 


1830. 


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TIIK    PRUPXn    MODE   Of    CONmUTINO    MISSIONS   TO  THE    IIKATHEN. 


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SERMON 


DELIVERED    BEFORE    THE 


Sotfeti?  Cot  moma^iinQ  m  (S^ofiinel 


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AMONG    THE 


INDIANS  AND  OTHERS  IN  NORTH  AMERICA, 


NOVEMBKR   5,  1829. 


IIY  BENJAMIN  B.  WISNER, 

PASTOR  OF   THE   OLD   SOUTH    OHUKCH    IN    BOSTOIf. 


BOSTON  :   PUTNAM  &  HUNT. 


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AT  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  November  5th,  1829. 
Voted,  That  tlie  SiicRETAnv  and  Trf.asurer  be  a  committee  to  present 
the  thanks  of  the  Society  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wisnor  for  his  Sermon  deliverea  before 
them  this  day,  and  to  request  a  copy  for  the  press 

ALDEN  BRADFORD,  Secretary. 


PRESS    0»'    PUTNAM    &    HUNT. 


SERMON. 


(I 


MICAH  IV,  1—4. 

Tn  the  laitt  days,  it  shall  rome  to  pasit,  that  the  mountain  of  the  home  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  it  shall  be  exalted 
above  the  hills;  and  people  shall  flow  unto  it.  And  many  nations  shall 
eome,  and  say.  Come,  and  let  ua  no  up  to  the  niountain  of  the  Lord,  and  to  the 
house  of  the  God  of  Jacob  ;  and  he  will  leach  ns  of  hi.s  ways,  and  we  will  walk 
in  his  paths  :  for  the  law  shall  go  forth  of  Zion,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord 
from  Jerusalem.  And  he  shall  judge  among  many  people,  and- rebuke  strong 
nations  afar  off:  and  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plough-nharcs,  and  their 
tpears  into  pruning-hooki  ;  nation  shall  not  lift  up  a  sword  against  nation,  nei- 
ther shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  But  they  shall  sit,  every  man  under  his 
vine  and  under  his  fig-tree  ;  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid  :  for  the  mouth 
of  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath  spoken  it. 

In  this,  as  in  many  other  passages  of  holy  Scri^)ture,  is 
predicted  a  period,  when  genuine  Christianity,  with  its  bless 
ed  influences  on  the  temporal  condition  and  the  eternal 
prospects  of  men,  shall  be  diffused  among  all  nations  :  A 
period,  when  the  benefits  of  intellectual  and  moral  elevation 
shall  be  every  where  enjoyed  ;  when  the  true  God  shall, 
every  where,  be  known,  and  worshipped,  and  obeyed  ; 
when  the  duties  of  domestic,  and  social,  and  civil  relations 
shall  be,  every  where,  understood  and  performed  ;  when 
governments  shall  be  modelled  and  administered  on  just 
and  benevolent  principles  ;  when  war  and  its  attendant  mis- 
eries shall  have  entirely  ceased,  and  tyranny,  oppression, 
persecution,  bigotry,  and  cruelty  be  done  away ;  when 
business  shall  be  conducted  without  contention,  dishonesty 


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and  covctoiisncss, — with  the  design  to  promote  the  |)err)irt- 
ncnt  interests  of  those  cngajreil  in  it,  nnd  the  general  good  ; 
when  the  Ainiilics  of  the  eartii  sliaii  he  the  abodes  of  piety, 
and  comfort,  and  love  ; — a  period  when  "■  the  cj'.rth  shall 
be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
sea,"  and  "  the  people  shall  be  all  righteous,"  and  "  all  the 
ends  of  the  world  shall  see  "  and  rejoice  in  "  the  salvation 
of  our  God."  Mighty,  indeed,  must  be  the  revolution  that 
shall  accomplish  all  this.  But  let  not  the  benevolent  heart 
despond.  "  The  moutli  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath  spoken 
it  :"  and  "  that  which  he  hath  spoken,  he  will  also  bring  to 
pass  ;  that  which  he  hath  purposed,  he  will  also  do." 

How  will  he  accomplish  the  glorious  result  ? 

The  efficient  agency  will  be  that  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
whose  office  it  is  to  "ive  to  men  the  light  of  the  knowl- 
edge  of  the  glory  of  God,  and  make  them  willing  in  the 
day  of  his  power.  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by 
my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts."  "  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  in  the  last  days,  saith  God,  that  /  will  pour  out  of  my 
Spirit  upon  all  flesh  ;"  and  then  "  that  great  and  notable  day 
of  the  Lord"  shall  "  come." 

But  God  usually  works  by  means.  He  has  uniformly, 
hitherto,  dispensed  spiritual  blessings  to  men  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  their  fellow-men  ;  and  this  gracious  method 
of  procedure,  there  is  no  reason  to  expect,  will  be  discon- 
tinued. We  are  expressly  assured  it  will  be  employed  in 
effecting  the  glorious  result  predicted  in  our  text.  *'  The 
law  "  is  to  "  go  forth  of  Zion,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord 
from  Jerusalem."  The  change  foretold  in  the  character 
and  condition  of  the  nations,  is  to  be  effected  by  means  of 
"the  law,"  and  "the  word  of  the  Lord."  And  these  are 
to  "  go  for*h  of  Zion,"  and  "  from  Jerusalem  :"  the  means 
which  it  has  been  determined  to  employ,  are  to  be  put  and 
continued  in  operation,  by  those  already  blessed  with  the 
knowledge  and  the  happy  influences  of  the  true  religion. 


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It  must,  then,  be  interesting  to  every  Cliristian,  ami  to 
every  philanthropist  living  in  a  Christian  country,  to  in- 
quire, how  is  this  instrumentality  to  be  employed  ?  To 
what  end,  and  in  what  manner,  shall  we  direct  our  efforts, 
that  they  may  contribute  most  efficiently  to  the  extension 
of  religion  and  happiness  among  the  nations  ?  Shall  our 
primary  object  be  to  civilize*  or  to  christianize  them  ?  And 
when  we  come  to  teach  them  the  doctrines  of  religion, — 
whether  at  the  commencement  of  our  efforts  for  their  im- 
provement, or  at  a  subsequent  period, — shall  we  inculcate 
only  the  simpler  and  more  general  principles  of  our  faith  ? 
or  shall  we,  ut  once,  present  and  urge  upon  their  accep- 
tance its  most  sublime  and  distinctive  truths  ? 

Let  us  give  to  these  questions  a  brief  ond  candid  exami- 
nation. 

I.  First.  In  employing  our  instrumentality  to  extend 
the  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings  of  Christianity  to  the 
uncivilized  and  idolatrous  nations  of  the  earth,  shall  we 

MAKE    IT  OUR    PRIMARV    OBJECT    TO    CIVILIZE     OR   TOCHRIS- 
TIANIZE    THEM  ? 

On  this  point,  you  are  aware  that  directly  opposite  opin- 
ions have  been  advanced  and  advocated,  by  persons  professing 
the  same  desire  to  witness  the  universal  diffusion  of  civiliza- 
tion and  genuine  religion.  On  the  one  hand,  it  has  been  main- 
tained, that  the  way  "to  teach  Christianity  to  barbarous 
and  savage  nations  "  is,  to  "  begin  with  civilizing  them — 
educating  and  instructing  them  in  the  useful  arts."t  "  The 
order  of  providence  clearly  recommends,  that  those  chil- 
dren of  penury  should  first  get  into  easier  circumstances, 
and  then  be  made  converts  to  religious  tenets.":];     "  It  is 

*  Uncivilized  Heathen  are  chiefly  referred  to  in  this  discourse,  because  the  eflorts 
of  the  Society  before  which  it  was  preachud,  for  the  conversion  of  tho  lleatiioii,are, 
by  its  charter,  required  to  be  directed  to  the  North  American  Indians.  As,  howov- 
«r,  many  of  the  remarks  to  be  made  will  be  cijually  applicabia  to  missions  among 
civilized  Heathen,  these    will  be  incidentally  rolerred  to. 

t  Edinburgh  Review,  Vol.  21— page  C6.     t  Do.  Vol.  8— page  434. 


\ 


■-_-  ,.j^ji.»c'*ii«*''--"'1^i,viTfl' 


l>y  this  kind  of  prnclicnl  iiistiiiclion  nlunc,  lliiU  lliotic  in  a 
ccrlniii  stiitc  of  ignorance  and  l)urlini'ism  urc  to  be  gained 
over  to  llic  trntli  ;  and,  till  a  similar  course  is  followed, 
our  Missionary  and  our  Bible  societies  n)ay  expend  thou- 
sands and  tens  of  thousands,  to  no  purpose,  but  to  manifest 
the  goodness  of  their  intentions,  and  their  total  ignorance 
of  the  means  which  oui;ht  to  have  been  pursued."*  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  contended,  that,  in  all  our  efforts  to 
meliorate  the  condition  of  idolatrous  and  savage  nations, 
we  should  make  it  o\ir  jirst  and  great  object  to  christianize 
them  ;  carryinjf  with  us,  indeed,  and  rcconuncnding  by  ex- 
ample and  instruction,  the  arts  and  comforts  of  civilized 
life,  but  makinj;  tlitir  impiovcnicnt  in  these  respects 
only  a  secondary  thinn;, — viewing  it  as  a  result  that  will 
be  easily  attained,  and  will  follow,  almost  of  course,  when 
they  are  brought  to  receive  in  their  hearts  the  softening  ai»d 
elevatinji  truths  of  relinion. 

Which  of  these  directly  opposite  views  is  correct  ? 

The  readiest  and  most  satisfactory  way  to  decide  the 
question  is  to  appeal  to  facts.  We  might,  indeed,  argue 
from  the  nature  of  the  case  ;  and  shew,  we  think  conclu- 
sively, that  true  civilization  can  be  clTocted  only  by  chang- 
ing the  dispositions  of  barbarians  ;  and  that  the  most  di- 
rect, and  in  fact  the  only  efficient  method  of  accomplish- 
ing this,  is  to  bring  the  powerful  motives  of  the  Gospel  to 
bear  directly  on  their  hearts.  But  we  arc  not  particularly 
fond  of  a  priori  reasoning,  and  have  no  dispo.  Itl  to  re- 
sort to  it,  however  easily  and  successfully  it  might  be  done, 
when  we  can  appeal  to  facts.  And  on  this  subject  there 
arc  facts  in  abundance,  furnished  by  an  experience  of  eigh- 
teen hundred  years.     To  facts,  therefore,  we  appeal. 

1.  And  the  first  fact  to  which  I  would  direct  your  at- 
tention is,  the  striking  and  very  instructive  one,  that,  in  the 

*  Edinburgh  Roviow,  Vol.  21 — pngc  fifi.     Snc  also  ilin  Discourse  preached  before 
tliis  So«ioty,  in  1823,  by  Ihn  Rev.  ThatMcus  Mason  Ilurri;;,  D.  D.  pp.  8,  9. 


:-:^. 


commission  gu'cn  to  the  JlposUes  and  thrir  succensnrs  hy  the  Sa- 
viour, anil  in  llic  history  transmittal  to  us  in  the  JS'cw  Testament 
of  its  early  exceution,  there  is  not  o«e  uord  about  civilizing 
men  ;  altltou<>li  tin;  Gosspcl  was  to  l)e,  ami  was  in  fact,  car- 
ried by  the  Apostles  to  savage  tribes  as  well  aa  to  the  then 
civilized  nations.*  Thecoinniund  of  tlie  Savior  is,  "  Go 
ye," — not  to  the  nations  which  have  been  prepared  for  your 
coming  by  civilization, — but,  "  Go  yc  into  all  the  n'0»7(/," — 
to  savages  as  well  as  to  civilized  men. — And  do  what  ?  First 
civilize  those  whom  voii  find  j^unk  in  barbarism,  and  tench 
the  true  philosophy  to  those  whom  you  finil  more  refined  ;  t 
and  thus  prepare  them  for  receiving  my  religion  ^  No  ;  but, 
"  Go  yc  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  (Jospcl  to  every 
vrcalurc.^^  To  all  alike,  savai^e  and  civilized,  proclaim,  at 
once  and  continually,  tlu;  ^«)od  news  of  salvaticn  through 
my  atoning  blootl.  And  the  history  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Apostles  in  executing  this  touunission,  unilcr  the  infal- 
lible guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  among  savage  as  well  as 
civilized  nations,  is, — not  that  they  abstained  from  "  preach- 
ing Christianity  "  till  tliey  hud  taught  the  civilized  the  true 
philosophy,  aiul  the  barbarous  "  the  enu)licnt  arts  of  life  ;" 
but,  "they  went  forth,  and  preached  everywhere,"  lliat 
men  "should  repent,  iimi  turn  lu  Cod,  and  do  works  meet 
for  repentance  ;"  "no<  huowing  any  thing  among"  tliosc  to 
wliom  they  went,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  their 
continuance  with  them,  "  sttre  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  cruciji- 

*  Piiul,  wo  know  from  (i.iliitiuns  i,  17.  prei.ilicil  llic  Cio.«|i('l  in  Arnbin.  There 
is  also  rcanoii  lo  Ijolicvo  llmt  lio  visited  ^paiii  .111  tin'  siiiiir  boiicvolciit  erriitid.  And 
if  lie  (lid  not  ii!tro(liii:o  Ciirisliniiil y  into  IJiiiairi,  there  i.s  .-iiili.-.IHctory  iividoncc  lliat 
it  wus  !jiicuiij>ilully  |)i'o|iU'.'at(:d  uiiiuiii;  its  llicii  liirli.iroii.s  inli'<d>ilaiits  in  the  a^'U  uf  tlio 
Apostlca.  In  tlio  .saiiin  'i^/u  air.<>,  mid  no  (■■■nht  hy  llic  A|iosllr:),  Cliiislianily  waM 
introduced  ainorif;  several  ul  iIk;  then  iiiicjivili/.cil  inhr.s  north  and  cast  of  I'alestine. 

t  This,  it  has  hi'on  maintained,  nhoiild  he  Ihi-  first  step  in  alti  iniitin^'  to  propagate 
Christianity  anioiiy  civili/.cd  lleatl.eii.  •'  instead  of  M^ndini.'  niissionaries  for  tlio 
iininediato  pinpose  <d'  preuehin;;  l.'luislianily,  even  in  its  Mniplo  i  lenn  iits,  let  llio 
reinuneration  that  is  now  divided  iiinoiip  tweiiiy,ho  t'ivcii  lo  two,  or  to  three,  who 
shall  lie  cdiKMted  lor  the  serticn.  Let  iheni  he  nnulu  niastiis  of  natural  philoso[iliy 
in  all  its  braiiehi'S.  l^et  them  be  lliui  (ui;;hly  aeipiainled  with  the  science  ol'  meta- 
physics. Let  thi'iii  bo  deejdy  read  iiihisloiy.  I, el  them  bo.  at  the  tame  lime,  wliat 
uru  called  practical  men  ;  men  who  know  the   w.irhl.  and  hiiinan  initnrc.     And,  l«l 


\ 


\ 


8 

ed."  And,  though  "tlie  Jews  required  a  sign,  and  the 
Greeks  sought  after  wisdom  "  or  philosophy,  yet  they 
^^  preached  Christ  crucified  ;  counting  that  the  foolishness  of 
God  is  wiser  than  men,  and  the  weakness  of  God  is  strong- 
er than  men." 

Now,  with  these  facts  in  view,  can  it  be  believed  that  it 
was  the  intention  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  his  Apostles  should 
make  it  the  first  object  of  their  labors  among  idolatrous 
and  barbarous  tribes  to  civilize  them,  and  among  Heathen 
nations  already  civilized  to  teach  them  the  true  philosophy, 
and  thus  prepare  them  for  the  reception  of  his  religion  ; 
and  that  the  Apostles  did  in  fact  proceed  thus  in  executing 
his  commission  ?  How  manifest  is  it  that  he  intended  they 
should,  and  that  they  did  in  fact,  make  it  their  first  and 
great  object  amo-ng  all  people  to  whom  they  went,  savage 
as  well  as  civilized,  to  make  known  to  them,  and  to  press 
upon  their  immediate  acceptance,  the  true  religion  ?  And 
this  command  is  the  commission  and  the  directory,  and 
the  proceedings  of  the  Apostles  in  executing  it  are  the  mod- 
el, of  all  propagators  of  Christianity  among  the  nations,  to 
the  end  of  the  world. 

But,  I  hear  it  said,  "  That  was  the  age  of  miracles."  And 
what  if  it  was  ?  Does  that  fact  render  the  commission  of 
Christ  and  the  example  of  the  Apostles  no  guide  to  us  } 
Where,  then,  is  the  commission  under  which  we  are  to  act, 
and  the  inspired  example  we  are  to  follow,  in  completing 

tlicm  be  Christians,  without  iny  of  the  narrowness  of  bigotry.  Lei  these  men  be 
sent,  to  be  companions,  and  friends,  and  teachers,  among  enlightened  Mahomedans 
and  Heathens.  Let  them  go  among  them,  to  live  as  Heathens  live,  in  regard  to  all 
that  is  innocent ;  and  to  impart,  to  those  who  aro  capable  of  receiving  it,  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  history,  and  of  tlic  philosophy,  whicli  arc  received  in  the  Christian  world. 
A  lew  such  missionaries,  I  think,  would,  in  no  long  time,  do  much  to  unsettle,  and 
raise  the  whole  foundation  of  Brahminical  faith,  in  minds  which  could  act  directly 
and  powerfully,  as  Europeans  or  Americans  cannot  act,  upon  the  lower  orders  of 
society.  And  in  no  long  time  might  thoy  bo  instrumental  of  fil'ing  its  place  with 
the  pure  and  more  rational  faith  of  the  Gospel.  I  believe,  indeed,  that  they  would 
at  least  do  more,  within  a  few  years,  in  preparation  for  the  extension  of  Christiani- 
ty, than  a  hundred  missionaries,  employed  as  most  missionaries  now  are,  would  ac- 
complish in  a  century."     Christian  Examiner,  Vol.  1 — pp.  190,  19L 


id  the 
Jt  they 

less  of 
^tronjj- 


}cutinff 


9 

the  work  of  spreading  the  l)Iessiiigs  of  Christianity  through 
the  earth  ?  And  wiiere  is  t!ie  ^.lace  in  which  Jesus  Christ 
or  l»is  Apostles  have  said,  or  intimated,  that  a  different 
method  was  to  be  pursued  in  propagating  his  religion  when 
miracles  should  cease  ?  And  who  can  believe  that  they 
intended  that  the  benevolent  work  should  be  continued  till 
it  is  completed,  and  that  such  a  change  in  the  method  of 
proceeding  would  be  indispensable,  and  yet  not  an  intima- 
tion of  it  is  to  be  found,  in  the  discourses  of  the  Saviour, 
or  in  the  writings  of  the  Apostles  ? 

Nor  is  this  the  only  radical  mistake  involved  in  your  ob- 
jection. It  implies,  if  it  has  any  force,  that  miracles  have 
a  direct  and  certain  efficacy  in  the  conversion  of  men. 
How,  then,  was  it  that  the  great  body  of  the  Israelites  who 
passed  through  the  Red  Sea,  and  stood  at  the  foot  of  Si- 
nai, and  witnessed  Jehovah's  continual  wonders  in  the  wil- 
derness, remained  in  unbelief?  How  was  it  that  the  cities  in 
which  most  of  the  Saviour's  mighty  works  were  done,  incur- 
red a  heavier  doom  than  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  ?  How  is  it 
that  miracles  are  never  again  to  be  wrought  in  effecting  the 
accomplishment  of  God's  gracious  designs  respecting  this  re- 
bellious world  ?  The  truth  is,  miracles  never  were  the  di- 
rect instrument  in  the  conversion  of  men.  They  were,  in 
fact,  and  were  intended  to  be,  to  those  in  whose  presence 
they  were  wrought,  precisely  what  they  are  to  us  who  are 
furnished  with  undoubted  evidence  of  their  having  been 
wrought,  viz.  an  .'>tt('station  to  the  divine  commission  of  the 
Prophets  and  Aposiic. ,  whose  instructions  were  delivered 
orally  to  the  first  converts  to  Christianity,  and  have  been 
transmitted  to  us  in  the  holy  Scriptures  :  by  which  instruc' 
lions,  accompanied  with  the  efficacious  grace  of  the  Spirit, 
converts  were  made  in  Apostolic  times,  and  are  to  be  made 
in  all  ages  of  the  world.  And  these  instj'uctions,  sanction- 
ed by  the  very  attestation  which  sanctioned  them  when  first 
2 


\ 


\    I 


i.    • 


10 

delivered,  we  have  in  our  hands  ;  and  may  employ,  in  en- 
liglilening  and  saving  the  nations,  just  as  thoy  were  employ- 
ed by  the  Apostles. 

The  objection  is,  then,  of  no  validity  ;  and  the  evidence 
of  the  facts  to  which  I  have  adverted  remains  unimpaired, 
and  direct,  and  conclusive  ;  evincing,  that  it  is  the  will  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  direction  of  his  inspired  Apostles, 
that,  in  labouring  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  improve- 
ment of  the  idolatrous  and  barbarous  nations,  wc  make  it 
our  primary  object  to  Christianize  them. 

2.     And  now,  let  us  look,  secondly,  at  the  kstlmony  offaclf 
that  have   taken  place  since   the  times  of  the  Jlpoitles.     And 
here,  I   will  pass  over  the  various  cflbrts  that  have  been 
made  in  other  ages  for  the  spread  of  Christianity,  and  di- 
rect your  attention,  at  once,  to  the  benevolent  exertions  of 
the  present  day.     And  this  I  do,  not  because  the  ages  which 
succeeded  the  Apostles,  down  to  the  present,  furnish  no  facts 
to  my  purpose.     All  the   facts  which  they  present,  at  all 
applicable  to  the  subject,  are  directly  to  my  purpose.*  But 
wc  have  not  time  for  so  extended  an  examination.     And,  of 
the  experience  of  uninspired  men,  that  must  be  most  valua- 
ble to  us,  which  has  been  had  in  the  very  circumstances  in 
which  we  wish  to  be  instructed  how  to  proceed.     And  this, 
too,   is,  emphatically,  the  age  of  missionary  effort ;  and, 
1  add  without  the  fear  of  being  contradicted  by  any  man 
who  has  knowledge  on  the  subject,  of  missionary  success. 

*  Tlio  vcncrablo  f.liot  lias  bcnn  ad.liicnil  as  a  witness  in  favour  of  llic  plan  of 
procKfiiliiif;  against  wlsicli  tlio  arf;nnient  is  here  ilircctcd,  inasiiiucli  as  ho  formed  the 
Imliaiis,  anion;;  whom  lie  laboured  with  micli  Apostolic  zeal  and  success,  into  a  lilllo 
community,  and  uiivc  them  a  simple  in.stitut(^  of  civil  polity,  and  hud  them  tau^dit  vari- 
ous domestic  and  mechanic  aits.  See  the  Sermon  before  this  Society  in  1S23.  ]{nt 
111  make  the  example  in  point,  the  advocates  {\)r  first  civilizing;  the  Indians,  should 
•hew,  that  Eliot  deferred  efforts  to  instnirt  them  in  the  Christian  religion  till  af- 
ter then  were  in  n  nieasure  rii'ilized.  Hut  this  they  can  never  do.  While  in- 
structing thorn  in  domestic  and  iiiechanic  arts,  he  was  every  day  prcaehinc  to  thani; 
and  usin;;  other  means  to  bring  thcni  under  the  translorininc  inllnence  of  Christian  doc- 
trines. Till'!  w.if  always  his  prinuirn  objiict.  And  so  it  was  wiih  15uAirtAR|),  and 
the  MaYH^ws,  and  .ill  others,  who,  in  the  last  and  preceding;  ceiiiiiries.  laboured  mi 
successlullv  to  rclorni  and  Clinstiuiuzi;  the  >;orIh  Aniencaii  liuluin.-i. 


In 


11 


y'y  in  en- 
Icniploy- 

'Vidcnce 

ipaiied, 

|e  wilJ  of 

^postJcs, 

iprovc- 

makc  it 

y  of  fads 
s.     And 
vc  been 
and  di- 
itions  of 
PS  which 
» no  facts 
It,  at  all 
se.*  But 
And,  of 
St  vahia- 
ances  in 
^nd  this, 
It;  and, 
iny  man 
success. 

l''e  plan  of 
''oriiiod  the 
into  a  little 
""t'lif  vari- 
1S23.  U„, 
i'"s,  should 
ion  till  uf. 
While  in. 
?  '<>  thatn; 
'stiaii  <l(.c- 
'ARi>,  and 
'Ijoiireil  so 


In  no  age  since  the  Apostles,  have  such  exertions  been  made, 
and  in  none  has  so  mucli  been  efl'ectcd,  in  spreading  the 
Gospel  through  the  earth.  The  standard  of  the  cross  has 
been  planted  in  every  clime,  and  on  every  shore.  Hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  children  and  adults  have  l)cen 
brought  under  Christian  instruction.  Tliousands  and  tens 
of  thousands  of  souls  have,  hopefully,  been  born  again, 
among  pagan  and  barbarous  nations.  Whole  countries  have 
cast  away  their  idols,  and  received  Jehovah  as  their  God. 
And  of  a  whole  people,  who  were,  within  the  memory  of 
some  of  us,  sunk  in  the  lowest  depths  of  barbarism  and 
idolatry,  it  is  declared,  by  the  very  best  authority,  that 
they  are  now  the  most  thoroughly  Christi.an  of  any  entire 
nation  on  the  earth.*  What,  then,  is  the  testimony  of  this 
age  on  the  subject  before  us  .'' 

In  answering  the  question,  I  am  compelled  to  express  my 
unfeigned  regret,  that  I  cannot  adduce  the  results  of  any  ex- 
periments made  by  the  advocates  of  the  first  of  the  plans 
Ave  are  examining.  They  have  said  much  about  the  want 
of  wisdom,  and  the  waste  of  zeal  and  treasure  and  lives,  in 
those  who  have  been  aiming  directly  at  Christianizing  the 
nations.  But  no  one  of  them  has  yet  been  found  having 
the  practical,  matter-of-fact  benevolence,  to  renounce  the 
pleasures  of  country  and  of  home,  and.  take  his  life  in  his 
hand,  and  go  forth  to  some  barbarous  nation,  and  exhibit 
the  folly  of  the  plan  of  proceeding  he  condemns,  by  shew- 

*  Sec  letters  of  the  doputation  of  the  Lmidon  Missionary  Society — Messrs. 
Tyrcman  and  Uoiiiiett,  from  the  Society  Islands,  '*  A  nation  ofpiKerers,"  thoy 
say,  "  .'lave  byconie  en)iiicnlly  trust-woithy.  A  jieople,  forninly  universally  addict- 
ed to  lasciviousncss,  have  hocomc  modest  and  virtuous  in  tlic  highest  degree.  Those 
who,  a  few  years  ago,  despised  all  forms  of  religion  except  their  own  horrid  and 
cruel  superstitions,  have  universally  declared  in  favour  of  Christianity  ;  study  dili- 
gently tliosc  parts  of  the  Christian  Scriptures  which  have  been  translated,  ask  earn- 
esily  for  more,  and  appear  conscicntioosly  to  rcgidate  themselves  by  the  sacred  or- 
^11  les."  A  sinulnr  revolution,  much  more  rapid  and  nearly  as  complete,  has  been 
cli'ecleil  by  the  blessing  of  (.Jiid  on  the  American  Ujission  at  the  Sandwich  Islands  j 
and  results  e(|ually  dtliglilCiil  are  f:ist  producing,  by  the  same  means,  among  the 
Jherokei!  anil  Choclaw  nations  of  Indians,  and  among  various  other,  civilized  and 
nnuivilizcd,  llcuthcns. 


12 


I  i. 


ing,  in  actual  results,  the  superior  wisdom  of  his  own. 
Now  we  say,  in  the  sincerity  of  our  hearts,  we  do  excced- 
in<rlv  regret  this.  For  we  should  love  to  witness  the  be- 
nevolcnt  acts,  as  well  as  to  read  the  benevolent  clfusions,  of 
these  men.  We  should  love  to  have  them  brought  out 
from  the  uncertainties  of  speculation  about  their  favourite 
scheme,  into  the  region  of  sober  fact.  And  we  should  love, 
in  this  discussion,  to  give,  honestly  and  fairly,  the  results  of 
their  labours,  liut  this  they  have  not  enabled  us  to  do  : 
and  we  must  content  ourselves  with  examining  the  experi- 
ments that  have  been  made  by  others. 

And  in  doing  this,  we  might  refer  to  the  history  of  mis- 
sions carried  on  of  late  years,  by  any  or  all  of  the  differ" 
cnt  denominations  of  evangelical  Ci..  .lans  ;  and  from  all 
we  should  receive  the  same  unctjuivocal  and  deiiL-;ive  testi- 
mony. I  shall  direct  your  attention,  however,  to  the  mis- 
sions of  but  a  single  denomination, — the  Moravians.  And 
this  I  shall  do,  chiefly,  for  two  reasons  :  first,  because  their 
efforts  for  the  propagation  of  Christianity  have  been  made, 
for  the  most  part,  among  savages  in  the  very  lowest  state 
of  degradation,  where  no  allowance  can  be  required  for 
any  preparation  in  their  previous  condition  ;  and,  secondly^ 
because,  it  is  agreed,  on  all  hands,  that  they  have  been  the 
most  judicious  and  successful  of  all  the  supporters  of  mod- 
ern missions.  Savs  a  decided  advocate  of  the  views 
opposed  in  this  discourse,  "  Of  all  who  have  attemjited  to 
teach  Christianity  to  barbarous  and  savage  nations,  the  Mo- 
ravian brethren  may  fairly  be  placed  at  the  head."*  "  They 
have,  more  than  any  other  j)rosclytizing  institution  or  divi- 
sion of  Christians,  united  wisdom  with  their  pious  earnest- 
ness to  convert  the  Heathen."  f  What,  then,  has  been  the 
course  pursued  by  the  Moravians  ?  and  what  is  the  testi- 
mony of  their  experience  on  the  subject  before  us  ? 

*  Edinburgh  Review— Vol.  21,  page  66.     t  Do.— Vo!.  8,  paga  437. 


ills  own. 
Jo  excced- 
|s  the  he- 

I'sions,  of 
k^'it  out 
If<«vourite 
liild  love, 
results  of 
P  to  do  : 
CAperi- 

of  mis- 

e  di/fer- 

f''om  all 

ve  tcsti- 

t'»e  mis- 
And 

se  their 
1  made, 
-St  state 
ired  for 
■condly^ 
een  the 
f  niod- 

vievvs 
>ted  to 
e  Mo- 

They 
•  divi- 
rnest- 
n  the 
testi- 


13 

They  began  their  missions  to  the  Heathen  in  1732  :  and, 
though  a  very  small  denomination,  with  exceedingly  limit- 
ed pecuniary  resources,  in  1822,  they  had,  in  various  Hea- 
then countries,  more  than  thirUj  settlements,  in  which  were 
employed  about  an  hundred  and  sixhj  missionaries,  having 
the  care  of  more  than  twenty-eight  tlwusand  converts.*    These 
settlements  are  in  Greenland,  in  North  and  South  America, 
in  the  West  Indies,  in  Tartary,  Persia,  and  Egypt,  in  the 
Islands   of  the  Indian  ocean,  and  in  southern  Africa.     And 
in  all  of  them,  you  will  see  well-organized  and  happy  com- 
munities ; — the  filthy  Hottentot  and  Grecnlandcr,  exhibit- 
ing the  decencies  of  civili7.cd  life — the  roving  savage   of 
America  divested  of  his  irregular  habits  and  his  barbarous 
cruelty  ;  all   furnishing  a  beautiful  exemplification  of  the 
morality  and  the  spirit  of  genuine  (^liristianity. 

And  now  by  what  process  have  these  delightful  results 
been  produced  ?     A  certain  philosophical  traveller, f  hav- 
ing visited  their  stations  in  South  Africa,  and  being  delight- 
ed with  the  visible  effects  of  their  labours,  without  observ- 
ing or  inquiring  in  what  manner  they  were  prosecuted,  set 
himself   to  speculate   on  the  principles   from  which  such 
results  must  have  originated  ;  and,  upon  his  return  to  his 
native  country,  published  to  the  world  that  "  the  Moravi- 
ans, insteiid  of  prcachinff  to  the  natives  the  mysterious  parts 
of  the  Gospel,  instructed  them  in   useful  and  industrious 
habits  ;  instead  of  building  a  church,  they  erected  a  store- 
house.    And  their  labours  were  crowned   with  complete 
success."     This  testimony  was  eagerly  caught  up  by  a  cer- 
tain distinguished  periodical,  and  held  forth  to  the  public 
as   convincing  evidence,  that  the  only  way  to  oTect   the 
eventual  conversion  of  pagan  and  barbarous  nations  is  first 
to  civilize   them.  J     But  the   Moravians  themselves,  whom 
the  reviewer  meant  to  compliment,  "felt  themselves  insult- 

*  Unit«(l  IJrotlircns'  Missionary  Intelligencer,  1822,  page  3.        t  Barrow. 
t  EUiiiburgh  Review,  Vol.  8— page  432. 


\ 


i.i 


14 

cd  by  his  culogium,  and  were  the  first  to  come  forward 
and  deny  his  assertions."*  And  no  one  at  all  acquainted 
with  the  history  of  their  missions  needs  be  told,  that  his 
statements  were  utterly  without  foundation.  They  have  al- 
ways acted  on  the  directly  opposite  system.  They  have, 
indeed,  carried  with  them,  among  the  savage  tribes  to  whom 
they  have  gone,  the  arts  and  usages  of  civilized  life  ;  and 
these  they  have  recommended,  by  their  example,  and,  to 
some  extent,  by  their  instructions.  But  this  has  always 
been  with  them  a  secondary  object ;  their  principal  eflbrts, 
wherever  they  go  in  the  prosecution  of  their  benevolent 
work,  being,  at  once  and  continually,  directed  to  the  com- 
munication of  the  knowledge  and  the  sanctifying  power  of 
Christian  truth. 

The  first  question  is,  therefore,  decided  by  the  word  of 
God,  and  by  the  continued  testimony  of  his  providence 
and  his  grace.  If  we  would  successfully  employ  our  instru- 
mentality in  extending  among  the  idolatrous  nations  of  the 
earth  the  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings  which  we  enjoy, 
we  must  make  it  our  direct  and  primary  object  to  Christian- 
ize them. 

II.  We  proceed  to  inquire,  secondly,  in  endeavouring  to 
Christianize  the  nations  of  the  earth,  what  method  shall  wc 

pursue  ?  SHALL  WE  TEACH  THEM,  AT  FIRST,  ONLY  THE 
SIMl'LER  AND  MORE  GENERAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  OUR  RELIG- 
ION ?  OR  SHALL  WE,  AT  ONCE,  PRESENT  AND  URGE  UPON 
TIiEIR  ACCEPTANCE  ITS  MOST  SUBLIME  AND  DISTINCTIVE 
TRUTHS  ?f 

On  this  point,  also,  you  are  aware  that  directly  opposite 
opinions  have  been  advanced  and  advocated,  by  persons  pro- 
fessing the  same  desire  to  see  the  blessed  influences  of  Chris- 
tianity universally  diffused.  On  the  one  hand,  it  is  maintain- 
ed, that  missionaries  ought  to  bring  out  at  once,  and  continu- 

*  Memoirs  of  John  Urciiituirt,  Vol.  l—page   93.     t  '''ho   reasoning   under   this 
licad  is,  throughout,  as  applieablo  to  civilized  aa  to  uncivilized  Heathen. 


> 

3 

1 

; 

i 

\ 

\ 

al 

'■ 

I 

P 

t' 

i 

t 

\ 

\ 

c 

\ 

t 

't 

r 

I 


--'^t 


^   '-i-^r*.: 


>^Pi 


and 


15 

(illy  to  make  most  prominent,  in  tlicir  instructions  to  tlio 
Heathen,  and  to  urge  upon  their  attention  with  tender  and 
persevering  earnestness,  the  great  peculiarities  of  the  Chris- 
tian system,  the  incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God,  the  propi- 
tiation made  in  his  blood  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  the  lost 
condition  of  unrenewed  men,  the  necessity  of  their  renova- 
tion by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  endless  happiness  or  mise- 
ry depending  on  the  character  formed  in  the  present  life. 
On  the  other  hand  it  is  contended,  that  those  who  are  la- 
bouring for  the  conversion  of  the  Heathen,  will  be  "  far 
more  likely  to  promote  among  them  the  cause  of  religion 
and  virtue,  if,  instead  of  inculcating  these  mysterious  doc- 
trines, they  would  enforce  on  the  attention  of  their  hearers 
those    divine  precepts  which  embody  the  principles  of  a 
morality  the  purest  and  most  perfect  the  world  has  ever 
known."*     A  radical  mistake,  it  has  been  alledged,  in  the 
conductors  of  modern  missions  has  been,  that,  "  instead  of 
adapting  instruction  to  the  capacity  and  powers  of  compre- 
hension of  the  ignorant  Heathen, — nay,  instead  even   of 
teaching  them  '  which  be  the  first  principles  of  the  oracles 
of  God,'   they  commenced  with  inculcating  those  sublime 
doctrines  which  the  most  cultivated  minds  must  be  expand- 
ed to  compi'ehcnd,  and  made  the  belief  of  profound  myste- 
ries the  first  requisite  ;"  "  while  others,  still   more  incon- 
sistently, introduced  the  abstruse  dogmas  of  metaphysical 
theology,  which  puzzle  the  intellect,  instead  of  the  simple 
and  intelligible  moral  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  which  have  a 
reforming  and  purifying  influence  on  the  temper  and  con- 
duct."! 

Which  of  these  directly  opposite  views  is  correct  .' 
In  answering  the  question,  we  appeal,  as  before,  not  to  a 
priori  reasonings,  but  to  facts. 

I.     And  we  again  refer  you,  ^rs^  to  the  example  of  the 

*  Momoirs  of  Urquliart,  Vol.  1 — |ia£rt-' S4.     t  Sermon  preached  before  this  Society 
in  1823,  Ijy  Thatklcus  Mason  Harris.  D.D.,  p;i!;o  U. 


«_^  .-'-.iw)-'  ■"« ■*<»    rii  i.vtti<  iiwmnii 


r/ 


! 


fi  r 


16 

Jlposths.  Their  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the  Heathen 
were,  every  where,  attended  with  immediate  and  most  won- 
derful success.  And  this  result,  we  have  seen,  was  effected, 
not  by  the  direct  instrumentality  of  the  miracles  they 
wrought,  but  of  the  religious  truths  which  they  inculca- 
ted, and  which  we  are  to  inculcate,  among  the  nations. 

In  what  order  and  method,  then,  did  they  inculcate  the 
Christian   doctrines  .-'     The  Apostle   of    the  Gentiles  shall 
answer.     "  The  Jews  require  a  sign,  and  the  Greeks  seek 
after  wisdom,  but  we  preach  Christ  crucified  ;  unto  the 
Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto  the  Greeks  foolishness  ; 
but  unto  them  which  are   culled  both  Jews  and   Greeks, 
Christ,  the  power  of  God,  and  thcwisdom  of  God.^'     "  When 
I  came  to  you,  I  came  not  with  excellency  of  speech,  or  of 
wisdom,  declaring  unto  you  the  testimony  of  God  :  for  I 
determined  not  to  know  anv  thing  among  you,  save  Jesus 
Christ,  and  him  crucified."     "  God  forbid  that  I  should 
glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."     This 
most   successful  propagater  of  Christianity  among   Pagan 
nations,  acting  under  the  infallible  guidance  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  made  the  atonement  accomplished  by  the  humiliation 
and  death  of  the  Son  of  God,  wherever  he  went,  the  grand 
and  prominent  subject  of  his  instructions.     And  so  did  all 
the  Apostles.     And  in  doing  this,  they  were,  and  were  in- 
tended by  the  Spirit  who  guided  them  to  be,  models  for 
all  propagaters  of  Christianity  among   the  nations  to  the 
end  of  the  world.     What  more  direct  and  convincing  evi- 
dence  can  be  desired  that,  if  we  would  secure  the  blessinir 
of  God  to  give  efficacy  to  our  efforts  for  the  conversion  of 
the  Heathen,  we  must  make  the  atonement  of  Christ  the 
great  and  prominent  subject  of  our  instructions  .'' 

2.  And  now  look  again,  secondly,  at  the  testimony  fur- 
nished by  the  history  of  modern  missions.  And  here,  too,  I 
might  refer  you  to  the  experience  of  any,  or  of  all  the  de- 


i-^  * 


17 


Heathen 

most  won- 

s  cflecteil, 

des  tliey 

ly  inculca- 

ions. 

lulcate  the 

iuiles  shall 

ecks  seek 

;  unto  the 

)oIishness  ; 

(1  Greeks, 

"  When 

cch,  or  of 

(iod  :  for  I 

save  Jesus 

lat  I  should 

St."     This 

onji    Paoan 

['  the  Holy 

liumiliation 

;,  the  jifrand 

d  so  did  all 

id  were  in- 

models  for 

ons  to  the 

incing  evi- 

he  blessinjr 

aversion  of 

Christ  the 

hnony  fur- 

lere,  too,  I 

all  the  de- 


nominations of  cvaufTolica!  Ciiristians  who  have,  of  late 
years,  been  actively  engaged  in  sending  the  Gospel  to  thj 
Heathen,  and  present  you  with  the  same  unequivocal  and 
decisive  testimony.  Uut,  as  before,  I  shall  direct  you"  at- 
tention only  to  the  Moravians.  And  this  I  shall  do,  not  on- 
ly for  the  reasons  stated  in  the  former  instance,  but  also  for 
the  additional  one,  that,  of  both  the  methods  of  procedure 
now  under  examination,  these  devoted  servants  of  Christ 
liave  made  a  thorough  trial. 

Their  second  mission  was  established  in  Greenland,  in  1733.* 
And  for  a  series  of  years,  using  at  the  same  time  every 
means  to  gain  the  confidence  and  aflection  of  the  savages 
around  them,  they  were  most  assiduous  in  teaching  them 
only  such  truths  of  the  Christian  system  as  are  commonly 
regarded  as  of  a  preliminary  nature, — the  being  and  char- 
acter of  God,  the  creation  of  the  world,  the  fall  of  man, 
and  the  requirements  of  the  divine  law.  And  what  was  the 
effect  of  this,  apparently,  most  rational  mode  of  proceed- 
ing, pursued  with  a  fidelity  and  a  patience  which  will  never 
be  surpassed  }  "  Shew  us,"  their  auditors  would  say,  "  the 
God  you  describe,  then  we  will  believe  in  liim,  and  serve 
him.  You  represent  him  as  so  great  that  we  cannot  come 
near  him,  neither  will  he  trouble  himself  about  us.  We 
have  prayed  to  him  when  we  were  sick,  or  had  nothing  to 
cat,  but  he  heard  us  not.  What  you  say  of  him,  therefore, 
we  think,  is  not  true  ;  or,  if  you  know  him  better  than  we 
do,  then  do  ye,  by  your  prayers,  obtain  for  us  plenty  of 
food,  health  of  body,  and  a  dry  house  ;  for  these  are  all  the 
things  we  either  desire,  or  want.  We  have  healthy  souls 
already  ;  we  need  nothing  but  a  sound  body,  and  enough  to 
eat.  You  are  a  different  kind  of  people  from  us.  In  your 
country,  perhaps,  persons  may  have  diseased  souls  :  we 
have  proof  of  this,  indeed,  in  those  who  come  hither  ; 
they  are  good  for  nothing ;  they  may,  therefore,  stand  in 

*  Their  first  mission,  to  St.  Tliomas  in   tiie  West  Indies,  had  been  commenced 
in  tho  preceding  year. 

3 


i> 


18 


U    ' 


necil  of  a  Saviour  and  a  physi*  iari  for  tlio  soul.   Vour  licav- 
en  ami  your  spiriliuil  pleasures  may  I»c  gooil  eiiongli  for 
you  ;  but  they  woulil   he  tiresome  to  us.     We  must   have 
seals,  and  birds,  and  fishes  ;  these  we  shall  not  find  in  your 
heaven  ;  and  therefore  wc  will   leave  it  to  you,  and   the 
worthless  part  of  the  Grecniandcrs.     As  for  us,  wo  will  go 
down  to  Torn<;arsu';k  ;  there  wo  shall  find  abundance  of 
every  thing,  without  toil  or  troul)le."*     "  If  the  missiona- 
ries tarried  more  than  one  night  with  them,  they  employed 
every  spceies  of  art  to  entice  them  to  their  wanton,  disso- 
lute practices;  and  when  they  failed  in  this,  they  endeav- 
oured to  weary  and  provoke  them,  by  mocking  and  mim- 
icking their  reading,  singing,  praying,  or  by  accompanying 
these  sacred  excici .es  with  their  hideous  howling,  or  the 
beat  of  their  drums.     They  took  occasion,  from  their  ex- 
ternal poverty,  to  ridicule  them  with  the  keenest  sarcasms  ; 
and  if  the  Brethren  replied,  that  they  did  not    come  to 
Greenland  for  the  sake  of  outward  advantages,  as  good  eat- 
ing and  drinking,  but  to  teach  them  the  will  of  God  and 
the  way  to  heaven,  they  taunted  them,  saying,  '  Fine  fel- 
lows, indeed,  to  be  our  teachers  !     We  know  very  well, 
ye  yourselves  are  ignorant,  and  must  learn  your  lesson  from 
others.'     All  this  rudeness  the  Brethren  bore  with  patience, 
meekness,  and  serenity  :  but  the  savages,  instead  of  being 
softened  by  their  gentle  behaviour,  were  only  encouraged 
to  abuse  them  the  more.     They  pelted  them  with  stones, 
seized  many  of  their  goods,  and  shattered  the- .  to  pieces. 
Nay,  they  were  so  cruel  as  to  attempt  to  "^iOil   their  boat, 
or  to  drive  it  out  to  sea,  which  would  have  deprived  them 
of  their  chief  means  of  subsistence.     And  they  even,  with 
naked  knives  in  their  hands,  threatened  their  lives."! 

At  length,  in  1738,  five  years  after  the  commencement  of 
their  labours,  there  was  a  providential  occurrence,  destined 

♦  Brown'*  History  of  Missions,  Vol.  1— page  305.     t  Do.  Vol.  1— page  303. 


.   .       ^f 


'  ^?\   ' 


■^ 

'n 


our  Iioav- 
ongli  for 
mist   liJive 
il  ill  your 
aiul   the 
0  will  {JO 
lulunro  of 
luissiona- 
oinployeil 
on,  (liissu- 
cy  ctuloav- 
aiul  miin- 
)inpany'mi!f 
ing,  or  the 
1  their  ox- 
sarcasms  ; 
come  to 
s  good  eat- 
f  God  and 
'  Fine  fel- 
vcrv  well, 
esson  from 
h  patience, 
d  of  being 
encouraged 
v^itli  stones, 
.  to  pieces, 
their  boat, 
rived  them 
even,  with 
ves."  t 
ncement  of 
:e,  destined 

— paga  303. 


U) 

to  have  a  most  important   inllucnco,  not  only  on   this  mis- 
sion, but  on  the  convcrii^iun  of  the  Heathen  throughout  the 
world.     Some  Southlaiulcrs  happened  to  visit  the  Urethren, 
as  one  of  them  was  writing  out  a  fair  copy  of  a  translation 
of  the  Gospel.     They  were  curioji.s  to  know  what  was  in 
the  book  ;  and,  on  hearing  read  the  history  of  Christ's  ag- 
ony in  the  garden,  one  of  the  savages,  named  Kaiarnak, 
stepped  up  to  the  ta!  'c,  and  in  an  earnest,  alFectiiig  manner, 
said,  '  How  was   that  ?     Toll   me  it  once  more,  for  I  also 
would  fain  be  saved.'     Those  words,  the  like  of  which  the 
missionary  had  never  hoard  from  the  Iij)sof  a  Greenlander, 
penetrated  his  whole  soul,  so  that  the  tears  rolled  down  his 
chocks,  while  he  gave  an  account  of  the  life  and  death  of 
Christ,  and  of  the  plan  of  salvation  through  him  ;  descri- 
bing, with  more  than  ordinary  force  and  enoi'gy,  his  suffer- 
ings in  the  garden  and  on  the  cross.     The  savages  listened 
with  fixed  attention  ;  and  some  of  them  recpiested  th.atthcy 
Mii^ht  he   tautjht  to   ])ray  :  and  when  the    missionaries  did 
pray  with  them,  they  fro(piontly  repeated  their  expressions, 
that  so  they  mi^ht  not  forget  tliom.     And,  on  leaving,  they 
said  they  would  come  affain,  and  hear  of  these  things.  And 
from   that   j)eriod,  KafaUiNak  made   lVot|nont  visits  to  the 
Brethren,  and  at  length  took   up  his  re-iilence   with  them  : 
and,  afier   about    a  year,  giving  satisfactory  evidonie  of  a 
work  of  grace  on  his  heart,  he  was  received  into  the  CImrch. 
As  yet,  however,  the  missrionaries  had  made  no  definite 
change   in   their  method  of  instructing   the   people.     And 
soon,  Kaiaunak  left  tlioin,  to  rotiini  to  his  countrymen  in 
the  South.     After  about   a   year's  absence,  he  returned,  to 
their    unspeakable  joy  ;  I)rin'jii>g  with   him  a  brother  and 
his  family  ;  and  savin:',,  that  all  lie  luul  heard  from  the  mis- 
sionaries li'i  Iia.i  ui;ulo  liiiowii  to  Iih  countrymen  ;  that  he 
iiail  ciulja\  oiircu,  w  liilo   a!)  inl,  to  bold    connnunion   with 
the   Saviour  ;  aiul  th;it  h;^  ;lioiild  n.'vcr  leave  the  Brethren 
a<j:ain. 


1  t 


( 


\i 


.1  ^ 


so 

The  missionariofl  now  began  to  perceive  tlie  imi)ort  of 
the  dealings  of  God's  jirovidenoe  nnd  griiee  with  them  in 
the  cnsc  of  this  iiidiviihial.  And  the  result  wns,  n  deliber- 
ate determinution  to  niiike  a  material  change  in  their  man- 
ner of  instrn(:tinj»  the  savages  aronnd  them.  From  thia 
period,  1740,  they  directed  the  attention  of  all  to  whom 
they  coidd  get  access,  "in  the  first  instance,  to  Christ  Je- 
sus,— to  his  iucnrnation,  his  life,  and  especially  his  suffer- 
ings nnd  death."  And,  immediately,  was  this  method  of 
instruction  followed  with  signal  and  extended  success.  "  It 
illuminated  the  darkened  understandings"  of  the  misera- 
ble ol)jccts  of  their  benevolent  exertions,  "  melted  their  stub- 
born hearts,  and  kindled  in  their  cold  icy  breasts  the  llainc 
of  spiritual  life."' 

Nor  was  this  new  mode  of  iustruction  confined  to  the 
Grecniandcrs.     Siniilar   views  in  relation  to   the   relative 
importance  of    Christian   doctrines   had,  about    the  same 
time,  by  some  remarkable  circumstances,  been  impressed  on 
the  minds  of  the  Brethren  at  home,  f     The  missionaries  in 
Greenland  gave  sjjcedy  information  of  the  change  in  their 
method  of  instruction,  with  its  causes  and  effects.     And 
the  same  method  of  proceeding  was  forthwith  adopted  in 
all  the  Moravian  missions  ;  and  has,  in  all  of  ihem,  been 
ever  since  pursued,  with  the  same  instructive  and  happy 
results.     And  now,  the  recorded  testimony  of  these  indefat- 
igable and  most  successful  labourers  in  converting  the  llea- 
then,  is,  that  "experience  lias  taught  them,  that  little  is  ef- 
fected by  beginning,"  in  atten)])ting  to  propagate  Chris- 

*  This  account  of  Ihn  Greenland  mission  is  aliridged  from  Urown's  History  of 
Missions,  Vol.  1.— pp.  309—320. 

t  Tlicso  circiimstiiiiccs  ore  narrated  in  (^ranz's  History  of  the  Brethren.  They 
occurred  at  llurrnliut,  tlio  |iriiii  ipal  rc.-idcnio  of  tlic  IMiiravians,  in  1734.  From 
tliat  period  they  liavc,  in  tlioir  ili'^courscs  and  in  tiioir  dcvolional  exercises,  duel, 
mucli  inoro  than  tliey  had  previously  done,  on  the  person  and  redemption  of  (;hrist, 
"  cs|)eci;dly  the  nierils  of  his  holy  iui'aniiilii.ii,  life,  pas-ion  .-iiul  death,  for  ricoiu'il- 
iation,  ami  the  saiiclification  of  the  human  soul  and  hody  in  all  the  tireumstanees 
of  life,  as  their  coinfurl  and  e.xatiiplo."  Criitiz,  §  120.  htt:  also  the  Litur^jy  and 
Hymn*  of  the   United  Brethren,  which  every  where  "xhihit  this  peculiar  feature. 


i 

X 


I 


h 


'I 


imi)ort   of 

ill  tliom  in 

n  tlclihcr- 

thcir  inan- 

'rotn   tliis 

to  ^vlioin 

Christ  Jc- 

liis  surtcr- 

iiictliod  of 

nccrss.   "  It 

lie  miscrn- 

l  tlicir  stiib- 

s  the  llnmc 

inod  to  the 
le  relative 
the  sninc 
nprcssed  on 
yionaries  in 
i*re  in  their 
Ibets.  Anil 
adopttul  in 
ihrni,  been 
and  happy 
CSC  indt'fat- 
j?  the  Ilea- 
.  little  is  cf- 
;^ate  Chris- 

*n's    History  of 

rntliron.  They 
ill  17;J4.  From 
■xorcisrs,  duo'l, 
ipliuli  of  ClirisI, 
til,  (or  ifcumil- 
e  tirnimstanrrs 
lie  I^iliirjiy  and 
uliar  feature. 


21 

tinnity  among  Paj^anp,  "with  the  principles  of  natural  rellff- 
ion,  as  the  existence  of  God,  the  perfections  of  his  nature, 
or  the  duties  of  morality,  in  order  to  prepare  llieni  for  re- 
ceiving the  Gospel  :"  and  that,  "after  many  years  trial,  in 
different  countries,  and  under  every  variety  of  circunislan- 
ccs,  they  have  found,  that  the  simple  testimony  of  the  suf- 
ferings and  death  of  Christ,  delivered  by  a  missionary  pos- 
sessed of  an  experienced  sense  of  his  love,  is  the  most  cer- 
tain and  the  most  ert'ectual  method  of  converting  the  Hea- 
then."* 

And  now  listen  to  the  individual  testimony  of  one  of 
their  most  remarkable  converts.  He  was  a  North  Ameri- 
can Indian.  When  the  missionary  came  to  his  tribe  "  he 
was,"  says  the  history,  '•  the  greatest  drunkard  in  the  whole 
town  ;  he  was  quite  outrageous  in  sin,  and  had  even  rendered 
himself  n  cripple  by  his  debaucheries."  I>ut  soon  he  was 
remarkably  and  pcrujanently  changed.  "  The  drunkard 
had  learned  to  be  sober  ;  and  the  man,  who  was  as  savage 
as  a  bear,  had  become  ntild  and  peaceful  as  a  lamb.  He  af- 
terwards gave  the  Brethren  the  following  simjjle  "  and  in- 
slruclive  "  account  of  liis  conversion.  "  I,"  said  he,  "  have 
been  a  heathen,  and  have  grown  old  among  the  heathen  ; 
therefore  I  know  how  the  heathen  think.  Once  u  preach- 
er came,  and  began  to  tell  us  that  there  was  a  God.  We 
answered  him,  saying,  '  Dost  thou  think  us  so  ignorant  as 
not  to  know  that  }  Go  back  to  the  place  from  whence  thou 
earnest.'  Then  another  preacher  came  to  us,  and  bejjau  to 
say,  'You  must  not  steal,  nor  lie,  nor  get  drunk.'  To  him 
wc  answered,  '  Thou  fool  ;  dost  thou  think  that  we  do  not 
know  that  ?     Learn  first  thyself,  and  then  teach  thy  own 

♦  Ilrowii's  History  of  Missions,  Vul.  2— |>|i.  107,  !()!>.  "  It  is  proprr,  liowpvcr, 
to  rciiiaiU,"  t!io  liistnrian  adds,  "  llitit,  tlio'i;.di  tin;  Jlrntliri'ii  inako  llio  (k^alli  of 
ClirisI  tlio  craiiil  Miilijcct  of  tliiur  iiroat'lini;,'  aiiioiif,'  llio  lloalhcii,  thi^y  liy  Tin  inciiiis 
Cdiiliuo  llieir  iiisiructioiis  to  tliis  particular  puint.  Tlicn;  is  iin  part  ul'  diviiio  truth, 
whether  of  a  doctrinal  or  practical  nature,  but  what  they  endeavour,  \>y  degrees,  to 
instil  into  the  niiudd  of  tlieir  converts. " 


f 


i.        < 


09 

j)coplc  to  leave  off  tliesc  practices  ;  for  who  steal,  or  lie, 
or  are  more  ilrmiken,  than  the  white  men  ?'  Thus  we  dis- 
missed him.  After  sometime  brother  Rauch*  came  into 
my  hut,  and  sat  down  by  me.  He  then  spoke  to  me  as  fol- 
lows :  '  I  am  come  to  yon  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  of  heav- 
en and  earth.  He  sends  to  let  you  know  that  he  will  make 
you  happy,  and  deliver  you  from  that  misery  in  which  you 
at  present  lie.  For  this  purpose  He  became  a  man,  gave 
his  life  a  ransom,  and  shed  his  blood  for  you.'  When  he 
had  finished  his  discourse,  he  lay  down  upon  aboard,  fa- 
tigued by  his  journey,  and  fell  into  a  sound  sleep.  I  then 
thought,  '•  What  kiiul  of  a  man  is  this  ?  There  he  sleeps. 
I  might  kill  him,  and  throw  him  into  the  wood,  and  who 
would  regard  it  ?  But  this  ffivcshim  no  care  or  concern.' 
At  the  same  time,  I  could  not  forget  his  words.  They 
constantly  recurred  to  my  mind.  Even  when  I  slept,  I 
dreamed  of  that  blood  which  Christ  shed  for  us.  I  found 
this  to  be  something  different  from  what  I  ever  heard  be- 
fore;  and  I  interpreted  brother  Raucu's  words  to  the  oth- 
er Indians.  Thus,  through  the  grace  of  God,  an  awaken- 
ing began  among  us.  Brethren,  preach  Christ  our  Saviour, 
and  his  sufferings  and  death,  if  you  would  have  your  tcords  to 
gain  entrance  among  the  heathen.''^  f 

I,  surely,  need  not  add  another  word.  The  position  is 
demonstrated.  The  only  effect»val  way  to  attempt  the  con- 
version of  the  Heathen  is,  at  once,  to  preach  to  them,  and 
urge  upon  their  acceptance,  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel,  especially  the  incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God, 
and  his  vicarious  sufferings  and  death.  This,  and  this 
alone,  will  ilhiininate  their  darkened  understandings,  melt 
their  stubborn  hearts,  ami  kindle  in  their  icy  breasts  the 
flame  of  siiiritual  life,  and  bring  t!)em  to  the  enjoyment  of 
the  SI  bstantial  blessings  of  civilization  and  true  rcliirion. 

*  {.'lirislian  Tlciiry  Uain;!!,  tli«  Moiaviaii"  IMissionaiy  w)io  liaj   ht'cii  instrumental 
III  Ills  coiivcrtiioii. 
t  Mi-mwh'm  lli.^t.iry  of  MissioiiH,  Vol.  1  — I'P-  3))(j,  397, 


I 


\ 


I 


i 


I 


23 


steal,  01'  lie, 

■ 

rims  we  dis- 

\ 

*  came  into 

to  me  as  fol- 

■s 

ord  of  heav- 

i 

le  will  make 

% 

1  which  you 

, 

1  man,  gave 

% 

When  he 

■  ■> 

aboard,  fa- 

ep.     I  then 

2  he  sleeps. 

d,  and  who 

or  concern.' 

rds.     They 

i 

n  I   slept,  I 

.    5 

IS.     1  found 

r  heard  be- 

'  to  the  oth- 

-. 

an  awaken- 

mr  Saviour, 

our  icords  to 

) 

3  position  is 

\ 

ipt  the  con- 

% 

them,  and 

1 

.loctrines  of 

{% 

)n  of  God, 

s,   and  this 

dings,  melt 

breasts  the 

joyinent  of 

J, 

religion. 

en  instrumental 

i 

We  sec,  then,  brethren  of  this  Society,  what  is  our  duty 
in  the  discharge  of  the  sacred  trust  committed  to  us.     We 
must  employ,  and  send  forth,  to  our  destitute  settlements, 
and  to  the  Indian  tribes,  such  missionaries,  and  only  such, 
as  have  learned  by  experience,  the  deep  moral  ruin  of  the 
human  race,  and  the  subduing  and  transforming  efficacy  of 
redeeming  love  ;  and,  with  hearts  full   of  compassion  for 
their   perishing   fellow-men  and  of  zeal  for   the   glory  of 
Christ   in  their  salvation,   will,   at  once   and  continually, 
with  the  tondcrest  afl'ection  and  at  any  sacrifice,  endeavour 
to  bring  those  to  whom  we  send  them  to  know  and  feel  the 
power  of  the  simple  testimony  of  the  dying  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  as  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.     If  we  persevere  in 
this  course,  we  shall  obey  the  instructions  of  the  providence 
and  the   word  of  God;  we  slsaH   be  faithful  to  the  trust 
committed  to  us  ;  we  shall  essential' y  contribute  to  the  sal- 
vation and  civilization  of  men.     /f  we  pursue  a  different 
course,  we  shall  disregard  the  unequivocal  directions  of  the 
providence  and  the  word  of  God  ;  we  shall  be  unfaithful 
to  the   trust   reposed  in  us  by  those  who   contributed  the 
funds  committed  to  our  care  ;  we  shall  bestow  our  labours 
in  vain. 

The  liOrd  give  us  grace  to  be  faithful  ;  and  to  pursue 
the  course  which  he  approves,  and  will  attend  Avith  his  ef- 
fectual blessing. 


i    It 


.n 


-  ■,^-~ 


REPORT. 


OF  TFIE  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


Published  liy  a  voto  of  tlie  Society,  Nov.  5lh,  1829. 


During  the  year  1823,  the  same  number  of  missionaries  were 
em])Ioycd,  and  in  the  same  placet!,  as  for  several  preceeding  years  : 
And,  excepting  tlie  teacliers  for  a  few  small  Indian  tribes,  they 
were  employed  in  tiie  State  of  Maine.  From  the  first  establish- 
ment of  tlie  Society,  our  missionaries  have  labored  aluost  wholly 
in  that  part  of  the  country.  There  were  then,  and  since,  al- 
ways have  been,  many  new  settlements  in  Maine,  the  inhabitants  of 
whicii  were  destitute  of  the  stated  means  of  religious  instruction, 
and  the  most  of  whom  emigrated  from  the  old  towns  in  Massachu- 
setts. These  considerations,  probably,  ijiduced  the  first  and  early 
members  of  this  Society  to  employ  religious  teachers  in  that  re- 
gion. The  first  missionary  was  Rev.  Daniel  Little,  of  Wells,  who 
was  peculiarly  (pialified  for  tiie  employment,  and  very  popular  on 
account  of  his  evangelical  and  catholic  sentiments.  He  was  em- 
ployed several  years,  successively,  viz.  from  1789  to  1794;  and 
his  services  were  cxtensivcdy  useful.  In  many  places  which  he 
visited,  the  people  seemed  to  have  lost  a  disposition  for  religious 
worship  and  instruction,  in  conse(iuence  of  being  long  destitute  of 
the  means  of  grace;  and  many  families  were  without  the  sacred 
volume.  He  convinced  them  of  the  importance  of  maintainingthe 
ordinances  of  the  gospel ;  and  was  instrumental  in  forming  church- 
es and  inducing  the  people  to  ordain  ministers  in  several  places. 

More  recently,  this  and  other  similar  societies,  through  their 


I 


L 


i 


26 


t 


If 


-^    I 


■i  / 


missionaries,  liavn  bocii  instrumental  in  f()rniin,<Tclmrclics  and  pre- 
paring for  the  sctilcmont  of  learned  ministers  in  various  parts  of 
Maine.  Tliore  are  still  many  new  settlements,  where  the  people 
need  encouragement  and  aid  I'rom  abroad,  and  who,  without  h('l[) 
from  missionary  Societies  in  this  State,  would  probably  long  remain 
destitute  of  a  preached  gospel.  In  that  part  of  tlie  country,  then, 
there  seems  to  bo  an  extensive  field  for  missionary  labors.  New 
plantations  are  constantly  making,  and  the  claim  upon  the  Socie- 
ty for  assistance  is  equally  strong,  perhaps,  as  it  was  forty  years 
ago. 

It  would  be  difficult,  perhaps,  to  fix  upon  any  particular  year,  in 
which  much  greater  good  had  been  done  than  in  others.  No  tes- 
timony of  our  missionaries,  in  proof  of  such  fact,  is  now  recollect- 
ed ;  and  yet,  in  the  lapse  of  the  period  above  mentioned,  which  is 
that  usually  allowed  for  one  generation,  we  have  proof  of  the  abun- 
dant fruits  of  our  labours,  which  calls  for  devout  gratitude  to  heav- 
en, and  for  persevering  eflorts,  on  the  part  of  the  Society.  By 
the  preaching  of  our  missionaries,  and  the  distribution  of  the  bible 
and  tracts,  under  the  divine  blos.sin.T,  Christian  knowledge  and 
virtue  have  been  rrreatlv  extended.  The  "ood  seed,  sown  in  form- 
er  years,  has  been  since  springing  up  and  bearing  fruit.  The 
growth  has  been  gradual^  and  sometimes  slow  ;  but,  in  most  places 
it  has  taken  deep  root ;  and  if  duly  watered  and  cultivated,  we 
may  humbly  hope,  will  produce  a  richer  harvest  in  future. 

Perhaps,  we  are  apt  to  expect  too  great  or  too  early  fruits  of  our 
labors  for  the  moral  and  religious  improvement  of  mankind.  But 
we  should  noi  be  discouraged  nor  relax  in  our  efforts,  for  want  of 
the  success  at  first  anticipated.  The  society,  however,  has  just 
cause  for  persevering  exertions  in  the  course  pursued  in  former 
years,  by  the  early  members  of  the  association.  And  how  great 
is  the  honor  of  being  employed  in  this  benevolent  work — Me  are 
called  to  be  workers  together  with  our  father  in  heaven,  and  with 
our  divine  master,  in  enlightening  and  reforming  our  fellow  men. 
And  if  we  have  felt  the  sanctifying  and  consoling  po\\cr  of  Chris- 
tianity ourselves,  if  we  "  have  tasted,  that  the  Lord  is  gracious," 
wc  shall  cheerfully  aid  in  imparting  the  gospel  of  grace  and  immor- 


clics  and  prc- 
rioiis  p;irls  ol' 
re  tlic  people 
without  li<'l[) 
loiiif  remain 
nuntry,  tlicn, 
iihors.  Now 
on  tlic  Socic- 
is  forty  years 

icular  year,  in 

ers.      No  tcp- 

low  rocollect- 

ncd,  which  is 

f  of  the  ahun- 

itudc  to  hcav- 

Socicty.     l{y 

)n  of  tlie  bible 

iiowledge  and 

sown  ill  forni- 

g  fruit.     The 

in  most  places 

mitivated,   we 

iiture. 

y  fruits  of  our 
'ankind.  But 
ts,  for  want  of 
ever,  has  just 
ued  in  former 
md  how  great 
uork — we  are 
ven,  and  witli 
ir  fch'ow  men. 
wcr  of  Chris- 
is  gracious," 
so  and  immor- 


27 


talily  to  our  hrcthorn  of  the  iiunian  family,  according  to  our  abilly 
and  o])portunities. 

On  an  examination  of  the  journals  of  the  missionaries  resjiccting 
their  services,  during  tlio  lust  year,  the  Select  Conmiittce  have 
evidences  of  their  fidelity  and  u^:e^niness  ;  and  there  appears,  on 
the  whole,  to  he  an  increasing  attention  in  the  people,  lo  their  in- 
structions. They  were  treated  wiih  kiudnoss  and  respect ;  and 
they  received,  for  themselves  and  the  Society,  the  fervent  thanks 
of  the  people  they  visited. 

Several  oflhoin,  (particularly  Mr.  Nurse,)  speak  of  the  interest 
the  people  take  in  schools;  and  lliey  express  an  opinion  of  the  ad- 
vantage eventually  to  result,  in  a  moral  view,  from  an  attention  of 
tlie  Society  and  its  missionaries,  to  these  estahlishments.  This  ap- 
pears to  have  been,  early,  an  object  with  the  members  of  the  Soci- 
ety ;  and  it  has  not  been  wholly  neglected  in  late  years.  Our  mis- 
sionaries have  been  instructed  to  visit  schools,  to  inquire  into  their 
condition,  and  to  furnish  children  with  spelling  books,  as  well  as 
Testaments  and  religious  tracts.  But  it  is  respectfully  suggested, 
whether  still  greater  utteiiliou  to  the  subject  would  not  be  proper 
and  useful.  Our  missionaries  usually  render  their  .services  in  sum- 
mer, when  the  men,  and  in  some  cases,  the  women  even,  arc  so 
engaged  in  harvest  (U-  other  labor  in  the  field,  that  they  seldom  at- 
tend lectures  delivered  on  week  days.  Besides  family  visits  and 
occasional  preaching,  when  the  people  could  well  attend,  they 
might  give  a  good  dv.nl  of  viuie  to  the  exaiuination  of  schools,  ami 
in  advising  and  assisting  the  teachers,  'J'lieir  presence  and  their 
instructions  would  imparl  a  beneficial  inlluence. 

Tn  pursuance  of  an  appoinluicnt,  in  JMay  18:28,  Rev.  Jonathan 
Calef,  of  Lyiiiau,  perlormed  one  month's  missionary  service,  in 
that  and  the  neighboring  town  of  Ossipee.  It  is  stated  in  his  re- 
port, that  he  spent  tliree  entire  weeks  in  the  latter  place  :  that  he 
preached  two  sermons  on  each  Lord's  day,  and  delivered  five  ser- 
luous  on  other  days;  made  six  lUiiiily  visits  a  day,  on  an  average  ; 
and  visited  all  tiie  schools  in  the  town.  The  church  in  Ossipee 
consists  oi"  forty  seven  inciubers  ;  and  the  number  of  families  which 
join  in  worship   ia    tlic  Congregational  mode,  are  twenty-eight. 


■I  * 


'ill 


28 

Mr.  Calef  says,  these  people  do  what  they  can  for  the  support  of 
the  gospel  ministry,  lie  was  received  witli  great  kindness  in  his 
visits  ;  and  was  requested  to  return  and  preach  a  longer  time  with 
them.  Mr.  Calef  is  of  opinion,  that  a  missionary  might  be  very 
useful  in  Ossipec,  as  the  people  are  very  desirous  of  having  reli- 
gious instruction,  and  very  attentive  to  the  public  ministration  of 
the  gospel.  He  received  from  individuals  of  that  place,  in  produce 
and  money,  cliiclly  in  the  former,  five  dollars,  and  75-100. 

The  residue  of  the  term  of  his  a])pi>intment,  Mr.  Calef  devoted 
to  his  own  people  in  Lyman,  who,  he  says,  "are  few  and  poor." 
They  allowed  him  only  forty-eight  dollars  for  the  year,  which  he 
received  princi])ally  in  produce  and  labor.  lie  expresses,  for  him- 
self and  people,  much  gratitude  to  this  Society,  for  its  aid  for  sev- 
eral years  past;  as,  without  it,  he  must  have  taken  a  dismission 
from  them  and  left  the  town.  Mr.  Calef  has  been  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Society  many  years,  though  generally  for  a  short  peri- 
od every  year.  The  proportion  of  Congregationalists  in  Lyman 
and  the  adjoining  towns  is  small,  and  Mr.  Calef  has  been  very  ac- 
ceptable and  useful  among  them.  For  the  present  year,  Mr.  Ca- 
lef has  had  no  appointment,  as  it  was  believed  other  places  claimed 
attention. 


m 

tr 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Nurse,of  Ellsworth,  had  amission  at  Mariaville, 
a  new  settlement  in  the  neighborhood,  for  twelve  weeks,  with  au- 
thority to  employ  some  one  as  an  assistant.  He  accordingly  en- 
gaged Mr.  Sylvester  Clap,  preceptor  of  the  Academy  at  Blue  Hill, 
in  his  vicinity,  who  spent  four  sabbatlis  and  two  whole  weeks  at 
Mariaville.  Mr.  Clap  was  well  received  by  the  people.  He  j)aid 
particular  attention  to  their  sclu.  "Is,  and  prevailed  on  the  principal 
men  to  build  a  new  school  house.  The  report  of  Mr.  Clap  to  Mr. 
Nurse  is  very  minute  and  interesting.  lie  visit(;d  the  plantation 
twice  in  July,  1828,  and  again  in  May  Ia?t.  At  his  first  visit,  the 
men  were  so  much  occupied  on  their  farms,  that  they  seldom  at- 
tended his  preaching,  except  on  the  sabbath:  and  in  May,  the 
travelling  was  so  bad  as  to  prevent  the  attendance,  even  on  the 
sabbath,  of  sucli  as  lived  at  a  distance  from  the  place  where  he 
preached.     lie  says,  however,  "  that  a  good   number  attended, 


:  a 


29 


lie  support  of 
ndnoss  in  liis 
ber  time  with 
night  be  very 
liaving  reli- 
inistratioii  of 
0,  ill  produce 

o-ino. 

[Calcf  devoted 

w  and  poor." 

car,  wiiich  he 

esses,  for  iiiin- 

ts  aid  for  sev- 

1  a  dismission 

1  tiic  cmploy- 

r  a  short  peri- 

ists  in  Lyman 

been  very  ac- 

I'car,  Mr.  Ca- 

)laccs  claimed 


at  Mariaviilc, 
^eks,  with  au- 
cordingly  cn- 

at  Blue  Hill, 
liole  weeks  at 
le.     He  paid 

the  principal 
.  Clap  to  Mr. 
tie  plantation 
Irst  visit,  the 
:!y  seldom  at- 
in   May,  the 

even  on  the 
ICC  where  he 
cr  attended, 


and  were  very  serious  in  their  deportment.  According  to  the  ac- 
counts, botli  of  Mr.  Clap  and  Mr.  Nurse,  there  is  an  opening  at 
this  place  for  useful  service.  "  The  field  is  represented  as  white 
for  harvest,  and  appearances  indicate,  that  the  Lord  has  many 
souls  in  this  place."  Mr.  Nurse  says  that  Mr.  Clap's  services  were 
very  acceptable.  Mr.  Clap  himself  says,  that  his  feelings  were  so 
moved  by  a  visit  to  a  small  and  poor  plantation,  adjoining  Maria- 
ville,  that  he  spent  some  time  in  getting  a  subscription  for  build- 
ing a  school  house.  Mr.  Clap  was  unwell  two  days,  while  on  his 
mission  ;  but  the  residue  of  the  time  he  appears  to  have  assidu- 
ously devoted  to  the  duties  of  his  appointment.  lie  visited  the 
schools  in  plantations  20,  27,  50  and  33  ;  and  preached  several 
lectures,  and  made  numerous  family  visits.  He  says  he  was  happy 
to  find  that  every  family  in  tiiis  wilderness  had  a  bible.  He  visit- 
ed some  recently  bereaved  families — in  one  of  which  the  widowed 
mother  of  a  large  family  of  cliildren  was  in  great  distress  on  ac- 
count of  her  own  spiritual  wants,  as  well  as  for  the  loss  of  an  af- 
fectionate husband.  lie  says,  he  exhibited  such  views  of  the 
Ciiristian  religion,  as  he  deemed  suitable  to  her  condition,  and  as 
were  calculated  to  impart  consolation.  After  lamenting  his  feeble 
state  of  hcaltii,  by  which  he  was  prevented  two  days  from  attend- 
ing to  the  duties  of  his  mission,  he  says,  "  this  day  is  the  sabbath, 
and  I  have  preached  three  sermons  to  the  people  in  No.  20.  The 
house  was  crowded  to  overflowing.  I  liavc  seldom  had  such  an 
attentive  audience.  My  emotions,  on  this  occasion,  induced  me 
to  say  "  it  is  good  to  be  here." 

Mr.  Nurse  spent  four  sabbaths  himself  at  Mariaville,  and  preach- 
ed ten  sermons;  one  of  which  was  before  a  society  for  the  promo- 
tion of  temperance.  In  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Nurse,  this  society  is 
doing  much  good  in  the  settlement.  He  states  several  instances 
of  reformation  which  have  occurred  since  its  forniution.  Mr. 
Nurse  says  he  was  gratified,  by  the  numbers  which  attended  his 
preaching,  and  with  their  serious  attention  to  iiis  discourses;  and 
he  expresses  a  hope,  that  he  has  not  labored  in  vain.  Mr.  Nurse 
was  one  sabbath  on  the  Island  of  Mount  Desert,  "  which,  he  says, 
though  not  strictly,  perhaps,  missionary  ground,  as  there  is  a  set- 


30 


,    i 


I 

-* 


i    I     i  y 
1    I   .,  - 

1   ^ 


A 


wi 


tied  minister  there,  lie  was  induced  to  visit,  aa  the  Clcrjjyujaii  is 
aged  and  infirm,  tlic  people  widely  dispersed,  and  it  being  also  a 
season  of  extraordinary  attention  to  religion."  He  had  however, 
previously  visited  the  aged  minister,  who  appeared  highly  pleased 
at  seeing  him,  and  invited  him  to  preach  to  ids  peoj)ie.  After- 
wards, having  a  request  both  from  the  minister  and  people,  Mr. 
Nurse  again  visited  Mount  Desert;  and  he  says,  "  the  people  were 
profoundly  attentive."  He  hopes,  the  society  will  be  willing  to 
consider  this  time  spent  in  its  service.  Mr.  Nurse  also  performed 
missionary  labor  in  the  town  of  Hancock,  adjoining  Ellsworth,  and 
preached  several  lectures,  which,  he  says,  were  numerously  and  se- 
riously attended."  At  the  date  of  his  letter  in  May  last,  Mr. 
Nurse  proposed  to  spend  two  sabbaths  more  at  Mariavillo,  to  com- 
plete the  appointment  of  last  year-,  though  he  and  his  assistant, 
Mr.  Clap,  had  preached  in  the  place  eight  sabbaths,  at  Hancock 
one  ;  one  on  INIount  Dcscnt,  and  had  employed  a  young  man  from 
the  Bangor  Theological  School  one  sabbath  at  Mariaville.  From 
this  place,  Mr.  Nurse  received  ^37  50 ;  and  from  the  people  of 
Mount  Desert,  8^  oO  ;  and  he  has  given  the  society  credit,  as  part 
of  the  compensation  voted  him,  for  '"^40. 

Rev.  Mr.  Kellogg  of  Portland  says  he  was  received  at  Perry, 
with  open  arms.  He  immediately  began  a  course  of  family  visits 
through  the  town,  in  which  there  is  about  one  hundred  :  and  con- 
tinued, as  he  could  redeem  time  from  the  Indian  school.  The  in- 
habitants are  scattered  over  a  large  territory  ;  but  have  become 
attached  to  a  central  worship  on  the  sabbath.  Their  attendance 
on  the  Lord's  day  exceeded  tliat  of  former  years.  The  people 
had  begun  a  new  meeting  house,  which,  during  the  then  ensuing 
season,  he  expected  would  be  completed.  "  It  inspirited  him  in 
his  efforts,"  he  says,  "  to  see  the  people  giving  serious  attention  to 
sabbath  exercises  and  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  town.  Six 
years  ago,  Perry  was  a  moral  wilderness ;  without  a  priest  and 
without  an  altar."  "  While  in  you;-  service,  including  six  weeks 
from  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  I  gave  attendance  to 
hrtee  public  schools,  to  the  montiily  coiicirt  of  prayer,  to  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  to  a  iiiblo  class,  to  fnc  funerals,  formed  a 


..*«i^ 


^ 


|C']cr^ryn,aii  is 

IjciDjr   also  !l 
|iiad  liowever, 
'glily  i)lcased 
[oplo.     Aftor- 
pcoplc,  Mr. 
h  i)coplo  were 
[Ijc  willing  to 
«o  pcrlWrnicd 
iI«\vortli,  and 
oiisly  and  se- 
'■^y   last,  Mr. 
^'Ilo,  tocom- 
'is  as.sistant, 
at  Hancock 
iig  man  from 
*'Jlc.     From 
''c  pcoj)le  of 
[rt'dit,  at:  pari 

il  at  Porry, 
family  visits 
J  :  and  con- 
>!•  The  in- 
iive  become 

attendance 
The  ])eople 
len  ensuino- 
'ted  hini  in 
attcmion  to 
lown.     Six 
pfitvst  and 
:  six  weeks 
'tichinco  to 
0  a  day  of 

foiiued  a 


3] 

tract  and  a  (rmpcrate  society,  admitted  tlirro  persons  into  llio 
cliurcli,  had  four  communion  .scasoiis,  made  ^70  vinits  among  the 
people,  cliicfly  pastoral,  lahoring,  l)y  expounding  the  scriptures, 
by  conversation  and  prayer,  to  brinjj  home  to  every  bosom  the 
truth  as  "  it  is  in  Jesus."  Mr.  Kellofjg  preached  at  Ltibcc,  near 
Perry,  and  administpre<l  the  sacrament  ;  he  also  preached  one 
sabbath  in  DcnnisviJlc,  and  one  in  llobinstown,  and  delivered  a 
sermon  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Church,  in  Calais.  When  Mr. 
Kellogg  first  visited  that  town,  the  Congrogationalists  had  no  ex- 
istence as  a  body  ;  but  occasionally  attended  public  worship,  at  St. 
Stephens,  on  the  British  side  of  the  river  St.  Croix.  They  have 
now  a  house  of  worship  and  a  respectable  society.  lie  hopes 
that  the  pooi)lc  of  Perry,  united  with  those  of  Robinstown,  will 
soon  settle  a  minister.  Mr.  Kellogg  has  given  up  the  Indian 
school ;  but  thinks,  that,  by  being  near,  he  may  do  something  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Tribes.  For  the  present  year,  Mr.  Kellogg  has 
had  a  mission  of  only  two  months. 

The  Rev.  Freeman  Parker,  who  was  appointed  for  the  term 
of  two  months  in  Dresden  and  vicinity,  commenced  bis  missiona- 
ry labors  in  Pittston,  an  adjoining  town,  which  is  without  a  settled 
minister,  but  large  in  territorial  extent,  and  has  a  considerable 
population.  Mr.  Parker  has  labored  much  in  Pittston  for  several 
years  ;  and  occasionally  administered  tlie  ordinances  of  the  gospel 
tiiere,  and  performed  other  pastoral  duties,  '.riic  church  is  small, 
but  very  anxious  to  hear  preaching  and  to  maintain  gospel  order. 
Mr.  Parker  preached  in  Pittston  six  sabliaths,  and  divided  his 
time  between  the  two  distinct  and  populous  parts  of  the  town. 
He  says,  "  he  cannot  state  any  mature  change  in  the  condition  of 
the  church  and  society  since  ins  preceding  report;  but  that,  on 
the  whole,  they  are  increasing  in  strength,  if  not  in  numbers. 
Though  small,  they  are  united,  and  heartily  disposed  to  do  all  in 
their  power  to  support  and  advance  tlio  cause  of  religion.  They 
are  now  enfrased  in  building  a  house  for  the  worship  of  God  ;  and 
hope  to  be  able,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  with  some  foreign  aid, 
to  settle  a  pastor  and  to  enjoy  the  regular  adniiiiistratiou  of  the 
gospel,  at  least  for  two  thirds  of  the  lime.  The  Lord  bless  and 
prosper  them." 


11 


32 

Mr.  Parker  prcaclic*!  in  Drosdni  four  siibliiUhs,  uml  on  spvoral 
ollior  days  ;  lie  uIhu  perrorined  oilier  ministerial  and  pastoral  du- 
ties umon^f  the  people  of  that  town.  Mr.  Parker  is  not  now  the 
minister  of  Dresden,  and  he  represents  the  church  as  "  in  a  low 
and  languishing  state  ;  several  nicinhors  having  lately  <Ieceased 
and  some  removed  to  other  places.  The  few  who  remained,  he 
says,  appear  to  Ln;  discouraged,  and  to  relax  in  their  eilbrts  " — and 
he  subjoins  a  devout  wish,  "  that  God  would  revive  his  work,  and 
strengthen  the  things  which  are  ready  to  die."  In  consequence 
of  his  representation,  Mr.  Parker  has,  this  year,  been  directed  to 
preach  in  Pittston,  and  other  destitute  towns  in  the  county  of  Lin- 
coln. 


-^ 


V 


.^-  ; 


i 


The  Rev.  Silas  Warren,  of  Jackson,  was  employed  for  one  month 
in  that  place,  and  vicinity,  lie  preached  eighteen  sabbaths  in 
Jackson,  and  four  in  Knox,  an  adjoining  town.  In  the  latter  place 
there  is  a  small  Congregational  church,  but  no  minister  and  no 
regular  preaching.  "  The  church  and  society  in  Jackson,  he  says, 
is  in  a  broken  state  ;  divisions  having  been  lately  made  by  Baptists 
and  Methodists."  He  made  many  visits  to  the  sicl  and  alllictcd, 
and  exhorted  from  house  to  house.  He  also  visited  the  schools, 
which  he  found  generally,  to  be  in  good  order.  lie  says,  "  he  is 
called  upon  to  visit  the  sick,  to  attend  funerals,  and  to  preach  to 
the  iiged  ;  for  which  he  receives  no  compensation,  as  the  people 
are  very  poor. 

The  mission,  to  which  Rev.  Mr.  Page,  of  Limington,  was  ap- 
pointed the  last  year,  which  was  for  two  months,  one  to  his  own 
people,  and  one  in  Cape  Elizabeth,  was  duly  executed.  "  His 
mission  to  Cape  Elizabeth,"  he  says,  "was  pleasant  to  himself, 
and  he  trusts  not  without  profit  to  the  people  of  that  place.  But 
he  found  religion  in  a  languishing  and  low  state  ;  the  only  effi- 
cient male  meinl)er  of  the  church  had  then  lately  deceased." 
There  are,  however,  it  appears,  several  well-disposed  and  active 
men  of  the  parish  or  society,  who  arc  providing  means  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  gospel  ministry,  with  the  aid  promised  from  some  mis- 
sionary societies.  Since  Mr.  Page  was  at  Cape  Elizabeth,  as  our 
missionary,  they   have  settled   a  clergyman  in  that  place.     The 


33 


iiul  on  scvpr.il 
11(1  |)!i.stor;il  dii- 
iw  not  now  tlio 
I  as  '*  in  a  low 
lately  clt'ct-asod 
lo  rciiiaiiieil,  lie 
cllbrts  "—and 
liis  work,  and 
n  consc(iucncc 
•ecu  directed  to 
county  of  Lin- 


d  I'or  one  month 
en  subbatlis  in 
the  latter  place 
mister  and  no 
ickson,  he  says, 
lade  by  Baptists 
I   and  alllictcd, 
id  the  schools, 
fo  says,  "  he  is 
nd  to  preach  to 
I,  as  the  people 

igton,  was  ap- 
3ne  to  his  own 
!cuted.  "  His 
mt  to  himself, 
U  place.     But 

the  oidy  elTi- 
ly  deceased." 
ied  and  active 
IS  for  the  sup- 
om  some  mis- 
:abeth,  as  our 

place.     The 


people  V  ore  furniHliod  with  l)il)los,  and  two  sabliath  nchoola  have 
been  lately  formed.  Means  arc  also  using  for  the  suppression  of 
intemperance  in  the  town.  While  at  Capo  Elizabeth,  Mr.  Page 
usually  preached  three  times  on  a  sabbath,  had  lectures  on  the 
week  days,  as  often  as  was  deemed  expedient,  and  made  ujiwarda 
of  sixty  family  visits. 

"  The  state  of  religion  in  Limington,  where  ho  is  settled,"  he 
says,  '*  was  unusually  low  the  most  of  the  year — but  he  has  cause 
of  gratitude,  that  |)caco  and  unanimity  generally  prevailed.  Three 
persons  were  added  to  his  church  in  Limington,  the  last  year  ;  and 
endeavours  were  making  to  furnish  a  bible  to  every  family.  The 
bible  class  and  sabbath  school  were  continued,  as  formerly,  and 
the  people  generally  give  their  attendance  on  public  worship 
and  instruction,  on  the  sabbath."  Mr.  Page  receives  $iJ65,  from 
liis  own  people,  and  'SlOO  from  other  sources,  besides  what  he  re- 
ceives from  this  society. 

Rev.  Mr.  iiteele,  of  Machias,  who  was  appointed  on  a  mission  to 
Cooper,  for  one  month,  visited  that  place  in  February,  and  spent 
five  sabbaths  there ;  but  on  one  sabbath  there  was  no  meeting,  on 
account  of  a  deep  snow.  Mr.  Steele  is  a  man  of  a  feeble  consti- 
tution ;  but  he  was  able  to  preach  twice  a  day  the  other  four  sab- 
baths, lie  says,  "  he  visited  from  house  to  house,  and  conversed 
with  the  people,  chiefly  on  the  subject  of  religion." 

Rev.  Mr.  Weston,  of  Lebanon,  had  a  mission  for  six  weeks,  for 
that  place  and  vicinity  ;  and  a  part  of  that  time,  he  spent  in  Mil- 
ton, New  Hampshire.  He  preached  three  sermons  on  the  sabbath, 
and  several  in  the  course  of  the  week ;  made  several  family  visits 
and  found  the  people  disposed  to  attend  to  religious  instruction. 
Among  the  people  of  his  charge,  in  Lebanon,  he  says,  there  has 
been  uncommon  seriousness  and  attention  to  religion,  within  the 
last  two  years,  thirty  three  members  have  been  added  to  his  church, 
whose  reformed  and  holy  life  bear  testimony  to  the  sincerity  of 
their  piety.  At  the  close  of  his  report,  Mr.  Weston  says,  "  I  have 
now  to  state,  that  the  pecuniary  condition  of  my  people  is  such 


■^  ■ 


I    * 

r 


1 


Hi 

tlinl  flioy  will  lie  iimJor  lid  ii<'cc'<<.'.iiy  in  askiiii;  fuitlirr  aiil  fioin 
nbruiul  lor  tlii'  supitorl  ol'tlii'  jytospcl."  ||c  ulso  cxprt-HHi'!*  Iii**  own 
and  liiH  pouplu'it  thanks  to  this  society,  for  itn  pa»t  U8si»taiicc. 

Tim  Iluv.  Nathan  Doiiiflass,  fonnorly  of  Alfred,  had  an  appoint- 
menl  of  two  months  in  West  Shajdfiyh,  county  of  York  ;  and  ac- 
curdinirly  porfornicd  inissiunary  srrvicu  in  that  town,  in  the  months 
of  Aujrust  and  Septcnd)t'r.  '  While  on  this  mission,'*  he  says, 
"  r  endeavored  to  pay  the  utmost  rejjard  to  your  wise  and  whole- 
fionu!  instruction."  He  says,  "he  [(reached  thirty  sermons,  and 
read  seven  on  tlie  suhjcct  of  intemiierance.  Several  of  the  ser- 
mons he  prcaclicd  were  on  funeral  occasions,  lie  made  one  liun- 
dred  and  tliirty  family  visits,  and  met  a  hibln  class  once  a  week, 
for  five  weeks ;  tlie  class  meetings  were  attended  hy  twelve  on  an 
average.  He  baptised  an  adult  person  and  his  child,  and  once  ad- 
ministered the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper.  "  This  society," 
he  says,  "  is  struggling  hard  for  a  standing  among  others,  who  now 
enjoy  superior  advantages.  The  people  have  erected  a  house  for 
worship,  and  were  niuch  encouraged  by  the  kind  notice  of  them  at 
this  time,"  He  says,  he  had  reason  to  believe,  that  his  mission 
was  very  acceptable.  During  his  mission,  there  was  a  great  mor- 
tality among  the  ciiildren  in  West  Sliapleigh,  fifty  of  whom  died, 
and  only  one  of  them  had  been  baptised.  This,  he  says,  he  men- 
tions, not  to  intimate  a  belief  in  tlic/»/«rf  niLsery  of  children  ;  but 
rather  the  present  misery  of  their  parents,  who  arc  thus  destitute 
and  negligent.  Mr.  Douglass  thinks  the  instructions  given  to 
bible  classes,  promises  mucii  good  to  tiic  rising  generation.  He 
thought  the  time  had  come  to  read  the  sermons  on  intemperance, 
and  that  good  would  result  from  them.  A  minister  has  been  set- 
tled in  West  Sliapleigh  since  the  visit  of  our  missionary  to  that 
place  in  1828.  Mr.  Douglass  has  an  appointment  the  present 
year,  for  two  months,  at  St.  Albans  and  vicinity,  in  the  county  of 
Somersett,  wiiere  there  is  no  settled  minister  of  the  Conjrrejjational 
order  within  twenty  miles  j  and  which  he  represents  as  a  "  wilder- 
ness of  wants." 

Rev.  Mr.  Fargo,  of  Solon,  was  employed  one  month  in  that  place 
and  vicinity,  including  Moscow,  Uingham,  and  a  plantation,  call- 


■  J- 


95 

n«l  tlic  Ciitiadii-rood  fipltlrmrnt.  The  nrponiit  lie  privrs  is  favora- 
ble M*  to  the  t'fli'ct  of  his  labors  in  this  destitute  region.  There  Ik 
no  settled  minister  in  these  pluct^s,  except  Mr.  Far;j;o ;  andtliongh 
the  plantations  are  comparatively  small,  they  well  deserve  the  at- 
tention of  this  Society.  The  inhabitants  are  chirlly  of  the  Con- 
j,'re>rational  order,  and  they  received  Mr.  I''arj;o  willi  cordiality 
and  an  apparent  desire  for  spiritnal  improvement.  'I  he  late  wor- 
thy and  venerable  Mr.  Mc'Iit-an,  for  several  years  a  missionary 
from  tiiis  society,  with  ni\liniited  discretion  to  perform  service 
where  and  when  he  conld,  visited  this  part  of  the  country,  eighteen 
years  ago,  wIkmi  the  settlemenls  were  new  and  scattered.  Unt,  by 
Mr.  Fargo's  account,  his  memory  is  much  respected  ;  and  the 
pood  instructions  ho  gave  them  arc  remembered  with  holy  grati- 
tude anil  joy.  At  nin^rham,  Mr.  Fargo  says,  the  meetings  on  the 
sabbatli  were  well  alfciided,  and  the  most  of  the  people  manifest 
an  interest  in  tiie  things  of  religion.  A  sai)bath  sciiocl  recently 
established,  wa.s  in  a  prosperous  slate.  A  small  sum  was  raised 
for  preaching,  and  l)y  advice  of  Mr.  Fargo  it  was  expended  by  em- 
ploying a  young  man  as  a  candidnle  for  settlement.  At  Mo.scow, 
he  says,  the  people  arc;  less  able  to  contribute  for  the  support  of  the 
gospel.  Our  charity,  he  observes,  was  well  received  by  the  in- 
habitants of  these  places;  but  some  of  them  wept  when  they  were 
told,  that  but  a  part  of  a  month  could  be  allowed  them.  Two  in- 
fants were  baptised  ;  and  two  persons  offered  for  a  union  with  the 
church.  The  people  desired  Mr.  Fargo  to  express  their  thanks  to 
the  Society  for  the  kindness  thus  shewn  them  ;  and  to  entreat  for 
them  a  continuance  and  extension  of  spiritual  favors.  The  set- 
tlement on  the  Canada-road  is  represented  as  a  still  more  inter- 
esting field  of  missir)nary  labor.  "  The  joy,  with  which  they  re- 
ceive the  missionary,  the  care  nianifcsted  for  his  comfort,  the  ea- 
gerness to  hear  his  instructions,  and  the  apparent  good  resulting, 
are  subjects,"  says  Mr.  Fargo,  "  which  cheer  and  animate  us  in 
our  labors — of  the  destitute  condition  of  this  people,  you  will  have 
a  clear  idea,  when  I  inform  you,  that  they  have  not  been  favored 
with  any  missionary  labor  for  tlie  year,  except  what  you  have  fur- 
nished them  by  me."     The  same  was  the  case  with  Moscow,  ex- 


■■n,<mm«ifwm-i  ,mmmm'm>mmmm'f 


3G 


\ 


cept  two  sabbatlis.  Mr.  Fargo  obderves,  that  lie  is  of  opinion,  that 
no  people  in  the  United  States,  on  account  of  their  destitute 
state,  their  poverty  and  their  reception  of  religious  instruction, 
more  deserve  the  charity  of  our  society.  The  books  sent  by  the 
Society  were  received  by  the  poor  like  food  by  the  hungry.  But 
so  great  is  the  want,  that  they  were  like  a  drop  of  rain  on  a  dry 
and  parched  plain.  The  thanks  of  the  people  in  this  region  are 
tendered  to  the  Society,  through  Mr.  Fargo,  for  the  books  and  the 
labors  of  the  missionary  ;  and  they  also  earnestly  request  to  re- 
ceive similar  favors,  and  that  more  time  be  allowed  the  teacher 
who  may  be  sent  there,  if  consistent  with  our  attention  and  duty 
to  the  people  of  other  places.  Mr.  Fargo  was  appointed  in  June 
last,  for  two  months,  to  these  places.  For  the  last  year,  Mr.  Far- 
go received  $60  from  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society  ;  and 
$100  from  the  Maine  Missionary  Society.  He  says,  these  sums, 
with  what  the  people  of  Solon  allow  him,  compensate  him  about 
three  fourths  of  the  year. 

Agreeably  to  his  appointment,  Mr.  Sawyer  spent  two  months 
in  missionary  services  among  the  inhabitants  in  the  plantations  on 
the  Penobscot  river.  "  At  Brownsville  and  Williamsburg,"  he 
observes,  "I  have  witnessed  the  fruits  of  former  labors,  under  the 
patronage  of  this  Society.  Several  of  my  former  puplis,  in  these 
places,  are  now  active  members  of  the  church."  At  Sangerviile, 
he  assisted  in  forming  a  church  of  ten  members.  On  former  oc- 
casions, when  in  the  service  of  this  Society,  Mr.  Sanger  assisted 
in  organizing  a  church  at  Garland,  and  one  at  Foxcroft ;  new 
towns  in  the  county  of  Penobscot.  During  the  last  season,  Mr. 
Sawyer  labored  nine  weeks  and  a  half,  and  preached  ten  sabbaths, 
in  towns  and  plantations  in  different  parts  of  the  county  ;  baptized 
one  adult,  attended  two  communions,  three  funerals,  two  church 
meetings,  a  Bible  Society,  and  several  conferences.  He  preached 
twenty  seven  times,  and  made  one  hundred  and  thirty  family  vis- 
its. He  also  visited  several  schools,  which  he  found  well  conduct- 
ed. Mr.  Sawyer  spent  more  time  in  Brewer  than  he  would  have 
done,  (as  it  is  an  old  town,)  had  there  not  been  uncommon  atten- 


37 

tion  to  religion  in  tiiat  place.  Many  made  public  profession  of  tlieir 
faith  in  Christ,  and  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  religious 
character.  There  was  a  great  desire  manifested  by  the  people 
generally  in  that  town  to  hear  the  gospel  preached  ;  and  Mr.  Saw- 
yer was  induced  therefore,  to  spend  much  time  among  them.  For 
though  numerous,  they  have  no  settled  minister.  Mr.  Sawyer 
seems  faithfully  to  have  performed  his  duty  as  a  missionary,  and 
his  labors  to  have  been  abundantly  blessed.  He  has  been  appoint- 
ed two  months  this  year,  for  the  same  places  which  he  visited  the 
last. 

By  a  statement  of  services  rendered  by  Mr.  Frederick  Baylies, 
it  appears,  that  he  kept  the  Indian  school  at  Nantucket,  Chaba- 
quidick.  Christian  Town,  Gay  Head,  and  atCharlestown  in  Rhode 
Island,  seventeen  weeks  in  person,  and  employed  others,  as  teach- 
ers in  his  absence,  sixty  three  weeks.  The  whole  number  of  chil- 
dren, who  attended  these  schools,  was  219,  195  of  whom  were  In- 
dians :  188  of  them  were  taught  writing;  91  read  in  the  Testa- 
ment, 66  in  the  Spelling  book  and  33  in  the  Alphabet.  Most  of 
them  were  also  required  to  study  and  answer  questions  from  Col- 
burn's  Arithmetic.  Mr,  Baylies  considers  the  schools  a  very  im- 
portant part  of  his  labors.  He  says  the  children  of  t'le  natives  are 
intelligent  and  docile,  and  their  parents  gladly  embrace  the  oppor- 
tunities granted  by  these  schools.  His  opinion  is,  that  the  moral 
and  social  condition  of  the  Indians  is  gradually  improving.  The 
religious  meetings  on  the  sabbath,  he  says,  have  generally,  been 
well  attended ;  sometimes  very  respectable  for  numbers,  but,  at 
other  times,  only  a  few  attended.  He  expresses  a  belief,  '  that 
some  persons  among  them  are  truly  pious,  and  have  chosen  the 
good  part  which  cannot  be  taken  from  them."  Some  sabbath 
t;chools  have  been  lately  established  among  tribes  under  the  care 
of  Mr.  Baylies.  And  he  has  been  supplied  with  books  for  the 
children  who  attend  them. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  of  the  tribe  of  Indians,  called  the 
New  Stockbridge  tribe,  and  formerly  under  the  care  of  the  late 
Rev.  Mr.  Sargent,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  far  the  greater  part 


"-"■m^^ 


fimmm 


38 


iPiiiovod  to  Green  Bay,  within  the  territory  of  Michigan,  about 
live  years  ago  :  and  that  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Sargent,  no  stated 
missionary  lias  Ijeen  located  among  them.  A  missionary  by  the 
name  of  Miner,  was  appointed  to  visit  those  who  settled  at  Green 
Bay  :  but  he  has  deceased.  The  Rev.  President  Davis,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Norton,  of  Oneida  county,  State  of  New  York,  were  re- 
quested by  a  committee  of  the  Society  to  take  the  superintendence 
of  those  of  the  tribe  remaining  at  their  old  settlement  in  that  state. 
In  a  letter  received  from  these  gentlemen,  bearing  date,  October 
30th,  1829,  they  say,  "  there  are  but  two  families  of  the  tribe  still 
dwelling  in  this  vicinity,  who  are  landholders :  but  there  are  some 
vagrants,  about  whom  no  calculation  can  be  made.  And  it  ap- 
pears to  us,  that  there  is  nothing  further  which  your  Society  ought 
to  attempt  to  do  for  those  remaining."  Of  those  at  Green  Bay, 
they  say,  they  are  able  to  give  no  satisfactory  information,  as  to 
their  number  or  condition — and  they  refer  to  the  '  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,'  which  has  a  mission  at 
that  place,  for  information,.  resi)ecting  their  state  and  numbers.  On 
inquiry  of  the  Secretary  of  that  Board,  it  appears,  that  since  the 
settlement  began,  many  have  migrated  to  the  place  from  New 
Stockbridge ;  thirty  having  removed  there  during  the  present 
year  :  and  that  the  whole  number  is  now  220  or  230.  They  are 
on  the  banks  of  Fox  river,  which  falls  into  Green  Bay.  Their 
settlements  extend  about  four  miles  on  that  river,  and  back  from 
its  banks  two  miles.  Most  of  the  flimilies  have  farms,  on  which 
they  raise  corn,  potatoes,  wheat,  &,c.  sufficient  for  their  own  use. 
Their  buildings  are  decent  and  comfortable.  They  do  not  attend 
much  to  hunting,  and  seem  disposed  to  cultivate  the  earth  for  a 
livintr.  They  exhibit  many  evidences  of  fondness  for  civilized  life, 
and  they  understand  and  read  the  English  language.  They  have 
had  a  school  about  two  years,  and  kept  chiefly  by  one  of  their  own 
tribe.  They  have  had  some  religious  instruction  ;  butn^t  without 
frequent  interruptions.  There  is  a  church,  consisting  of  38  mem- 
bers, most  of  whom  exhibit  evidences  of  sincere  piety — but  a  few 
have  been  disciplined  and  suspended  for  intemperance.  On  the 
sabbatli,  about  100  usually  assemble  for  public  religious  worship. 


I 


1 


39 


an<l  all  iiavc  a  biblr.  Tlicy  also  have  hooks  of  hymns,  and  sinjf 
with  much  tustc  and  propriety.  Family  religion  is  maintained  hy 
those  wiio  are  members  of  the  church,  and  are  parents,  and  by 
some  others.  A  sabbath  school  is  maintained  among  them — also 
connected  with  the  school  is  a  library  ;  and  one  also  of  50  volumes 
for  adults.  The  whole  tribe  of  the  New  Stockbridge  Indians,  at 
both  places  have  a  school  fund,  the  annual  income  of  which  is 
$300 — The  school  at  Green  Bay  consists  of  about  35  or  40. 

ALDEN  BRADFORD,  Secretary. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  18:>0. 

Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips,  President. 
Rev.  Dr.  Porter,  Vice  President. 
Aluen  Bradford,  Esq.  Secretary. 
Hon.  AsAHEL  Stearns,  Treasurer. 


, 


SELECT  COMMITTEE. 

Hon.  Jonathan  Davis,  Res.  Dr.  Ware,  Rev.  Dr.  Harris, Hon.  Richard 
Sullivan,  Rev.  Francis  Parkman. 

The  President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  arc  members,  ex  officio,  of  the  Select 
Committee. 


MISSIONARIES  FOR  1829. 


# 


Rev.  Elijah  Kellocg, 
Peter  Nourse, 
.lonathan  Sawyer, 
Nathan  Douglass, 
Freeman  Parker, 

Charles  F.  Page, 
Timothy  F  Rogers, 
Marshtiold  Steele, 
Silas  Warren, 
Mr.  Fargo, 


at 


months. 
2 

2 
2 
2 


Perry, 

Mariaville, 

Plantations  on  the  Penobscot, 

St.  Albans  and  vicinity, 

PittstoM,  and  eastern  parts  of 

Lincoln  coimty,    2 
Limington,  2 

Pernardston  and  Vernon,  2 

Cooper,  1 

East  Andovcr,  1 

Moscow,  Bingham,  &c.  2 

Mr.  Frederick   Baylies,  Missionary  and   'J'eacher  for  the  year,  to  the  Indians  on 
Nantucket,  Mariija's  Vineyard,  and  the  Narraganset  tribe  in  Rhode  Island. 


1 


40 


ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 
In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  eighty  seven. 

An  Act  to  incorporate  certain  persons,  by  the  name  of  «'The  Society  for 
propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North  America.'' 

Whereas  divers  persons  have  petitioned  this  Court  for  an  act  of  incorporation 
whereby  they  may  be  the  better  enabled  to  carry  into  eflect  their  design  of 
propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North  America,  and 
it  is  reasonable  that  the  prayer  of  said  petition  should  be  granted  : 

Therefore  to  promote  and  encourage  the  same, 

I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same.  That  Richard  Cranch  of 
Braintree,  Esq.,  Rev.  John  Clark  of  Boston,  Francis  Dana  of  Cambridge,  Esq., 
Rev.  Joseph  Eckley  and  John  FMiot  of  Bogton,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons  of 
Franklin,  Rev.  Levi  Frisbie  of  Ipswich,  Moses  Gill  of  Princeton,  and  William 
Hyslop  of  Brookline,  Esqrs.,  Rev.  Timothy  Ililliard  of  Cambridge,  Jonathan 
Mason  of  Boston,  Esq.,  Rev.  Phillips  Pajson  of  Chelsea,  Rev.  Eliphalet  Por- 
ter, and  Increase  Sumnei,  Esq.,  of  Roxbury,  Ebenezer  Storer,  Esq.,  Rev  Pe- 
ter Thatcher,  and  Oliver  Wendell,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  Ed- 
ward Wigglesworth  and  Samuel  Williams,  Doctor  of  Laws,  at  Cambridge,  and 
the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Wright  of  Boston,  be,  with  such  others  as  they  shall  elect, 
and  they  hereby  are  incorporated  and  made  a  body  politic,  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  by  the  name  of  "  The  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  among 
the  Indians,  and  others,  in  North  America  ;"  and  the  Society  aforesaid  shall 
have  perpetual  succession,  and  may  have  a  common  seal,  which  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  them  to  change,  break,  alter,  and  make  new  at  pleasure,  and  may 
purchase  and  hold  in  succession,  lands,  tenements,  and  real  estate  of  any  kind, 
the  annual  income  and  profit  not  to  exceed  the  value  of  two  thousand  pounds. 
And  the  said  Society  is  hereby  enabled  to  take  and  receive  subscriptions  of 
charitably  disponed  persons,  and  may  take  any  personal  estate  in  succession  ; 
and  all  donations  to  the  Society,  either  by  subscriptions,  legacy,  or  otherwise, 
excepting  such  as  may  be  differently  appropriated  by  the  donors,  shall  make  a 
part  of,  or  be  put  into  the  capital  stock  of  the  Society,  which  shall  be  put  out 
on  interest,  on  good  security,  or  otherwise  improved  to  the  best  advantage,  and 
the  incomes  or  profits  applied  to  the  purposes  of  propagating  the  Gospel  among 
the  said  Indians,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  judge  most  conducive  to  the  de- 
sign of  their  institution  ;  and  also  among  other  people,  who,  through  poverty 
or  other  circumstances,  are  destitute  of  the  means  of  religious  instructions  :  and 
the  said  Society  is  hereby  empowered  to  give  such  instructions,  orders  and  en- 
couragements to  their  officers,  and  those  they  shall  employ,  as  they  shall  judge 


i 


n< 
m 
ai 

n 

S 
T 

u 
n 
e 

u 

si 
1 
c 

t 

V 


f 


41 


i 


^ 


necessary  ;  and  tlie  persons  employed  as  tencliers  in  any  capacity,  shall  be 
men  of  tlie  protestant  religion,  of  reputed  piety,  loyalty,  prudence,  knowledge 
and  literature,  and  of  otlicr  Christian  and  necessary  (lualificutions  suited  to  their 
respective  stations. 

II.  Jlnd  be  it  further  enacted  hy  the  authority  aforesaid.  That  the  said 
Society  shall  meet  at  some  convenient  place  in  the  town  of  Boston,  on  the  first 
Thursday  of  December,  and  then  choose  a  I'residenl,  Vice  rresident,  Treas- 
urer, and  Secretary,  and  such  other  ollicers  "s  they  shall  judge  proper,  and 
may  make  bye  laws  and  orders  for  the  rcgidation  of  lliesaid  Society  ,•  provid- 
ed such  bye  laws  and  orders  be  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  the  land,  and  act 
upon  all  matters  which  tliuy  apprehend  needful,  to  promote  the  end  of  their  in- 
stitution :  and  the  ollicers  so  chosen  shall  continue  in  their  ollice,  until  the 
Thursday  next  succeeding  the  last  Wednesday  of  May  next  following  the  time 
of  their  appointmtint. 

HI.  Jlnd  be  it  further  enacted.  That  there  shall  he  a  general  meeting  of 
the  members  of  the  said  Society  at  fiostoa  afoiesaid,  or  in  any  other  j)lace 
within  this  Commonwealth  (unless  some  extraordinary  occurrence  prevent  the 
same)  on  the  Thursday  aforesaid  in  May,  and  tirst  Thursday  of  November, 
yearly,  forever,  and  oftener,  if  needful,  when  and  whore  the  said  Society  shal' 
think  lit  ;  and  any  seven  of  the  members  (the  President,  Vice  President, 
Treasurer  or  Secretary  always  to  be  one)  being  convened  at  the  said  times 
and  places,  are  hereby  declared  to  be  a  fiuorum  of  the  said  general  meeting  ; 
and  the  said  Society  at  their  general  meeting  in  May,  in  every  year,  (and  in 
case  of  any  extraordinary  occurrence  preventing  their  meeting,  then  at  their 
next  general  meeting  after)  shall  out  of  their  own  body,  by  a  majority  of  the 
members  present,  elect  a  I'resichnit,  Vice  I'resident,  Treasurer  and  Secretary, 
and  such  other  ollicers  as  they  shall  find  needful,  to  continue  in  utiice  until  the 
May  meeting  next  following  their  appointment,  or  until  others  be  chosen  to 
succeed  them  ;  and  all  the  oIliiMM-s  aforesaid,  before  they  shall  be  (|ualilied  to 
act,  shall  be  under  oath  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  respective  trusts  ; 
and  the  said  Society,  at  their  lirst,  or  any  other  stated  meeti'ig,  (and  at  no  oth- 
er) may  elect  into  their  body  such  poisons,  as  tliey  shall  judge  (pialilled  to  as- 
sist them  in  their  good  design  ;  provided  the  whole  number  of  the  said  society 
shall  at  no  lime  exceed  lifty  members  :  and  loay  appoint  committees,  to  prose- 
cute the  orders  of  any  general  m(!eting,  audit  the  Treasurer's  accounts,  and 
prepare  matters  for  tho  Society  to  act  upon  ;  and  such  committees  shall  exhibit 
an  account  of  their  proceedings,  at  the  general  meetings  of  the  Society. 

IV.  And  be  it  further  enacted.  That  the  Society  aforesaid,  by  tho  name 
aforesaid,  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  declared  to  he  capable  to  prosecute,  pursue, 
and  def(>ud,  in  all  courts  and  places,  and  before  all  proper  jndges  whatso(!ver, 
all  actions,  causes,  processes  and  pleas,  of  what  kind  or  nature  soever,  in  the 
fullest  and  amplest  manner  ;  and  if  it  shall  happen  that  the  said  Soci(!ty  shall 
become  seized  of  lands  or  tenements  hy  mortgages,  as  security  for  the  payment 
of  any  debts,  due  to  the  said  society,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  said  Society,  by 


42 

deed  under  the  liand  and  seal  of  their  President  for  the  time  being,  to  sell  and 
convey  the  lands  acquired  in  either  of  the  two  mentioned  ways  ;  provided  that 
no  such  sale  shall  be  made  or  concluded  on,  but  at  some  general  stated  meet- 
ing.     ^ 

V.  .^nd  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  Society  he,  and  hereby  is 
empowered,  upon  the  death  of  their  President,  Vice  President,  Treasurer,  Se- 
cretary, or  any  other  ollicer,  to  choose  others  at  any  stated  general  meeting,  to 
succeed  them  ;  and  may  also  remove  any  of  their  ofliccrs  when  they  shall 
judge  expedient,  and  appoint  others  to  succeed  them  therein.  Provided  al- 
wayi^,  that  no  member  shall  be  removed,  or  oflicers  displaced,  unless  at  one  of 
the  .stated  general  meetings  a.-,  aforesaid. 

And  to  the  end,  that  the  members  of  tlie  said  Society,  and  all  contributors* 
to  the  said  design,  may  know  the  state  of  the  Society's  stock,  and  the  disposi- 
tions of  llu'  profits  thereof,  and  of  all  the  donations  made  to  the  said  Society. 

V'l.  Be  it  further  enacted;  That  a  particular  account  of  such  stock  and 
disposition  shall  be  exhibited  by  the  Treasurer,  at  every  staiod  general  meet- 
ing ;  which  accounts  the  Secretary,  or  a  committee  of  the  said  Society  (iiaving 
examined  the  same)  shall  certify  to  he  true  ;  and  fair  entries  shall  be  made  in 
proper  books,  to  bo  provided  for  that  purpose,  of  all  donations  made  to  the  So- 
ciety, and  of  all  the  estate,  both  real  and  personal,  belonging  to  the  Society 
and  of  tlie  increase  thereof,  nnd  also  of  all  transactions,  either  by  themselves, 
their  ollicers,  or  committees,  for,  or  on  any  account  of  thesaid  i'ociety  ;and  the 
said  books  shall  be  brought  to  the  stated  general  meetings  of  the  Society,  and 
be  there  open  for  the  perusal  and  examination  of  the  members. 

Vn.  And  he  it  further  enacted.  That  Moses  Gill,  Esq.  be,  and  ho  is 
hereby  authorized,  by  public  notification,  in  Adams'  and  Noursc's  Independ- 
ent Chronicle,  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  the  said  Society,  at  such  time  and 
place,  in  the  town  of  Boston,  as  he  shall  judge  proper. 


i 


MEMBERS  OF   THE  SOCIETY 

for  propagoting  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others. 


Named  i"  the  Incorporation  Act,  17S7. 


*  Ricliard  Cranch,  E?q. 

*  Rev.  John  Clark,  1'.  D. 

*  Francis  Dana,  V.s<\. 

*  Rev.  Joseph  Ecklev,  D.  D. 

*  Rev.  John  Eliot, 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons,  D.  D. 

*  Rev.  Levi  Frisbic, 

*  Moses  Gill,  Esq. 

*  William  Ilyslup,  Esq. 

*  Rev.  Timothy  llilliaril, 


Rraintree. 

Rciston. 

Cambridge. 

Boston. 

JJoston. 

Franklin. 

Ipswich. 

Princoton. 

Brookline. 

Cambridge 


43 


r 

lit 

It- 
is 
le- 

Ito 

jiill 
bil- 

lof 

10  rs 
psi- 


*  Jonathan  Mason,  Esq. 
*Rcv.  Phillips  Piiyson,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Eliplialet  Porter,  U.  U. 

*  Increase  Sumner,  Esq. 

*  Ebenezcr  Stfunr,  Esq. 

*  Rev.  Peter  Thatclier,  D.  D. 
•Oliver  Wendell,  Esq. 

*  Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  D.  D.  L.  L.  D. 

*  Rev.  Edward  Wigglesworth,  D.  D. 

*  Samuel  Williams,  h.  L.  D. 
*Rcv.  Ebenezcr  Wight. 

Elected  May  29,  1788. 

*  Hon.  James  Bowdoin,  Esc). 
*Hon.  William  Phillips,  Esq, 

*  Richard  Cary,  Esq. 

*  Rev.  Jeremy  liolknap, 

*  Hon.  Thomas  Dawes,  Esq. 

*  Thomas  Russell,  Esq. 

*  Thomas  Lee,  Esq. 

*  Hon.  Samuel  Dexter,  Esq. 

*  Hon.  Cotton  Tufts,  Esq 

Elected  Juno  15,  1792. 
•Hon.  James  Sullivan, 

*  Rev.  Samuel  West,  D.  D. 
*Rev.  Jedidiali  Morse,  D.  D. 

*  Rev.  Jolin  Lathrop,  D.  D. 

*  Rev.  Simeon  Howard,  D.  D. 

*  William  Phillips,  Esq. 
lion.  John  Lowell, 

Elected  November  2, 1792. 

*  Nathaniel  Appleton,  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Woodbridge, 

*  Rev.  Daniel  Little, 

*  David  S.  Crcciiuugh,  Esq. 

Elected  November  6, 1794. 
*Hon.  Benjamin  Lincoln, 
Rev.  Alden  Uradfiird, 
Rev.  Abiel  Holmes,  D.  D. 

Elected   June  1,  1798. 

*  Mr.  James  White, 
*Mr.  Samuel  Salisbury, 

Elected  May  27,  1802. 

»  Mr.  David  Hyslop, 

*  Dudley  Atkins  Tyng,  Esq. 

*  Rev.  Elijah  Parisli,  D.  D. 

Elected  January  13,  1803. 

•Rev.  David  Tappan,  D.  D. 
•Eliphalet  Pearson,  L.  L.  D. 

Elected  November  1,  1804. 

*  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  D.  D, 
Rev.  William  E.  Channing, 

*  Samuel  Eliot  Esq. 

*  Daniel  Dcnison  Rogers,  Esq. 


Boston. 

Chelsea. 

Roxbury. 

Roxbury. 

Boston, 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Cambridge. 

Cambridge. 

Cambridge. 

Boston. 


Boston. 

Boston. 

Charlestown, 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Cambridge. 


Boston. 

Boston. 

Charlcstown. 

Boston. 

Boston, 

Boston. 

Roxbury. 

Boston. 

Medford.  (now  out  of 
the  State.) 
Wells. 
Roxbury. 

Hlngham. 

Wiscassot. 

Cambridge. 


Boston. 
Boston. 


Brooklinc. 


Cambridge. 
Cambridge. 

Salem. 
Boston. 
Boston. 
Boston. 


l' ' ' 

f'-f'' 


r 


44 

*  .Saniunl  Parkman»  Esq. 
Hon.  John.  Davis,  L.  L.  D. 
*Rov  Joseph  McKean.D.  D. 

Elected  November  7,  1803. 

*  Hon.  John  Trcadwell, 
Mr.  J{cnjaniin  liiisscy, 
Mr.  Samuel  H.  Walloy, 
Rev.  Joshua  Bates, 

Elected  Novcmbai-  5, 1807. 

♦Edward  A.  Holyoko,  M.  D. 

*  Hon.  Thomas  Dawes,  Jun. 
Rev.  James  Kendall,  D.  D. 
Hon.  Jonathan  Fliillips, 

Elected  November  3,  1808. 

*  Mr.  Josioli  Salisbury, 

Elected  November  7,  1811. 

Rev.  .John  T.  Kirkland,  D.  D.  L.  L.  D. 
Rev.  Hc-r.ry  Ware,  D.  D. 

*  Rev.  'J'lioiiias  Prentiss,  D.  D. 
Rev.  William  Grecnough, 
Rev.  John  Fierce, 

Elected  November  2,  1814. 
Mr.  Edward  Tuckcrman,  Jun. 

*  Caleb  Gannett,  Esq. 
Rev.  Charles  Lowell, 

*  Mr.  Elisha  Ticknor, 
Roy.  Samuel  Gilo, 

*  Rev.  John  Foster,  D.  D. 
Levi  Hodge,  Esq. 
•Rev.  Jushuu  Huntington, 

*  Rev.  Joseph  McKoan,  L  L.  D. 

Elected  November  5, 1818. 
Rev.  Francis  Parkman, 
Rev.  Jo.<oph  Tuckerman, 

*  Hon.  Jolin  Phillips, 
Hon.  Asahel  Stearns, 

Eov.  Ebenczer  Porter,  D.  D. 
Mr.  Pliny  Cutler, 

Elected  May  30,  1822. 
Rev.  Thaddeus  M.  Harris, 
Hon.  Isaac  Parker,  L.  L.  D. 
•Edwards  Phillip,  Esq. 
Rev.  John  Codman, 
Hon.  Daniel  Webster, 
Hen.  William  Reed, 

Elected  November  3, 1825. 
Hon.  Richard  Sullivan, 
•James  P.  Chaplin,  M.  D. 
Rev.  Henry  Ware,  Jun. 
Hon.  Samuel  Hubbard, 
Rev.  Benjamin  B   Wisner,  D.  D. 
John  C.  Warren,  M.  D. 


Boston. 
Boston. 
Brunswick. 


Salem. 
Boston. 
Boston. 

Dcdham.  (now  of  Ver- 
mont.) 


Salem. 
Boston. 
Plymouth. 
Boston. 


Boston. 


Cambridge. 

Cambridge. 

Medheld. 

Newton. 

Brooklinc. 


Boston. 

Cambridge. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Milton. 

Brighton. 

Cambridge. 

Bosto'i. 

Cambridge. 

Boston. 
Chelsea. 
Boston. 
Cambridge. 
Andover. 
Boston 


Dorchester. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Dorchester. 

Boston. 

Marblehead. 


Brookline. 

Cambridge. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Boston. 


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